The Creation of Light 1866

gustavedore

photography

natural shape and form

natural formation

organic shape

natural composition

text

photography

naturalistic tone

carved

christianity

water

natural texture

fruit

organic texture

natural form

christ

Gustave Doré's wood-engraving, *The Creation of Light*, from 1866, depicts the biblical moment when God creates light. The image focuses on a burst of light radiating from behind dense clouds, conveying the power and majesty of the event. Doré's detailed, expressive style, which uses strong contrasts of light and shadow, became highly influential, impacting the development of wood engraving. This image can be viewed as a dramatic representation of a pivotal moment in Genesis, as light is introduced into a dark, formless void.