Collection Online as of May 31, 2023
Young Woman from Valence
Gustave Doré
(French, 1832–1883)
Brush and brown ink and graphite with stumping with touches of white gouache on sturdy weight wove paper
Sheet: 28.7 x 22.1 cm (11 5/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2019.64
Location
not on view
Description
Gustave Doré was a prolific illustrator, contributing to a wide range of books and periodicals. This drawing likely relates to depictions of Spain that he made for Le Tour du Monde, a French travel journal, following extended exploration throughout the country. Doré’s images of Spanish culture were published in installments over the course of about a decade. Here, a young woman, probably from Valencia, is seen in profile, wearing a large earring and distinctive shawl.
Gustave Doré
French illustrator, painter and sculptor, best known for his illustrations of epic literature, such as those by Dante, Cervantes, Hugo, and Milton, as well as contemporary texts, such as those by Balzac. In 1872, he began to record the conditions of London slums. These engravings are rich in dramatic detail and show a harsh and nightmarish world. His work influenced that of Van Gough and later, the Symbolists.