The army of the Second Crusade find the remains of the soldiers of the First Crusade 1877

This stark image, created by Gustave Dore, presents the army of the Second Crusade encountering the remains of their predecessors. The medium here is engraving, a printmaking process that demands precision and patience. Look closely, and you’ll see the extraordinary level of detail achieved. Dore would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate. Ink would then be applied to the recessed lines and the plate pressed onto paper. The dramatic contrast he achieves gives the scene a visceral quality. This printmaking method allowed Dore to create multiple copies of his work, making it widely accessible, a direct connection to the economics of art production, and the rise of mass media. While engraving is a meticulous craft, it also allowed for the broad distribution of imagery and ideas, underscoring the complex relationship between labor, art, and society. Appreciating the print medium encourages us to consider how the artistic process shapes meaning, reaching audiences far beyond the elite art world.