The Creation of Fish and Birds 1868

Curator: Gustave Doré’s “The Creation of Fish and Birds,” an engraving from 1868, overwhelms with its sublime vastness. What strikes you first about this dramatic depiction? Editor: The sheer scale, definitely. The image feels both ancient and incredibly dynamic. The contrast between the chaotic sea teeming with these almost monstrous fish and the descending light filled with birds is pretty arresting. How do you interpret this dramatic contrast, especially in the context of its time? Curator: The contrast highlights a key tension, doesn't it? On one hand, the piece visualizes biblical narrative and aligns itself with a religious framework common in 19th century art, reinforcing ideas about a divine order and the separation of domains – sky, water, creatures. But the *way* Doré visualizes creation—these monstrous, almost primordial creatures and dramatic light—could be interpreted as questioning or even subverting the very certainties it seemingly depicts. Editor: Subverting certainties, how so? Curator: Consider the historical context. The late 19th century was marked by intense debates around evolution, scientific discovery, and the questioning of traditional religious beliefs. Could Doré be subtly hinting at anxieties around humanity’s place in the universe? The creatures are not necessarily harmonious, neither among themselves nor within the setting; is the image reflective of the period's unrest? The creation story gets an entirely new spin. Does seeing it through that lens shift your perception at all? Editor: Absolutely. It moves the piece from a simple depiction to a commentary on faith, doubt and progress. I find it interesting to see a period grappling with change, which really reframes what "Creation" truly means. Curator: Exactly. It is often not the creation, but the state of creation that allows discussion, even today. I never considered its application to current circumstances before now.