Vingt mille lieues sous les mers 1871

Edouard Riou produced this illustration for Jules Verne's novel, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" during the late 19th century in France. Published in 1870, the novel arrived at a time when France and the West were captivated by the possibilities of scientific advancement and exploration. The image captures the wonder and peril of the unknown depths, hinting at the social fascination with uncharted territories and the potential encounters with the strange, the monstrous and the new. Riou's illustration visualizes Verne's world through a detailed crosshatching technique. Notice the split view, showing both the surface with its familiar whales and ships, and the menacing world beneath, where divers face a giant squid. The narrative speaks to a desire to conquer nature, but also anxiety about the dominance of the unknown. To understand this image better, we can consider the history of science, popular literature, and the cultural impact of colonialism. This is where the art historian’s work begins, digging into sources to understand the meaning of the artwork.