Orlando Furioso 

Gustave Doré created this black and white engraving of Orlando Furioso. Here, the sharp contrast between light and shadow immediately draws your eye to the crowded street scene. A knight on horseback rides towards a distant archway, framed by towering, gothic structures that loom over a dense crowd of onlookers. Doré masterfully uses line and texture to create a sense of depth and movement. Notice how the density of the crowd diminishes toward the archway, drawing your eye along a central axis. The architectural elements on either side use vertical lines and intricate detailing that serve to confine the street and emphasize the imposing nature of the buildings. The contrast between the dark knight and the lighter crowd and background can be understood as a play between power and anonymity, where individual identity becomes subsumed within the masses. The visual structure of this print conveys a sense of spectacle and social hierarchy, reflecting the narratives of chivalry and social order prevalent in its time.