Death of Eleazer 1866

Gustave Doré made this print, "The Death of Eleazer," using the technique of wood engraving. Look closely, and you will see that the whole image is made up of tiny lines. The image was first drawn onto the surface of a block of wood. Then, instead of cutting away the lines to leave a raised surface, as in a traditional woodcut, the artist carved away the areas around the lines. This process requires immense skill, especially considering the sheer amount of detail and the need for multiple blocks to create tonal range and depth. The high level of craft in this piece gives a dramatic intensity to the subject, drawn from the Old Testament Apocrypha. It also reflects the industrialized character of printmaking at the time, when books and journals were becoming major media. Doré was something of a celebrity in his day, his designs translated into popular imagery for a mass audience. It's amazing to think of the skill that went into such a widely distributed picture. It reminds us that even reproducible media can be charged with artistic labor.