Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts 

Gustave Doré made this wood engraving, Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts, sometime in the 19th century, using boxwood blocks and specialized tools. The intense contrast of black ink on white paper creates a dramatic effect. The image is filled with fine lines, meticulously carved to depict the turbulent sea and monstrous beasts. The process of wood engraving involves cutting into the end grain of the wood, allowing for incredibly detailed and durable blocks that can produce thousands of prints. Doré’s choice of wood engraving, a technique often associated with commercial illustration, is significant. It speaks to the democratization of images in the 19th century, as this method allowed for mass production and wide distribution. Wood engraving wasn't considered 'fine art', and that's the point. Doré deliberately used the graphic language of commercial art to illustrate nothing less than a terrifying Biblical vision. By emphasizing the labor-intensive process and its connection to mass media, we can appreciate how Doré blurred the lines between high art and popular culture, inviting us to see the value and artistry in unexpected places.