Orlando Furioso 

Gustave Doré created this engraving, Orlando Furioso, using black ink to generate a scene draped in dramatic chiaroscuro. The composition is meticulously arranged to draw your eye into the depths of the image. Doré’s use of shadow and light doesn't merely illuminate, but rather defines the narrative's emotional core. The high contrast heightens the theatricality, turning the figures into archetypes caught within a moral play. By using light and shadow, Doré implies a symbolic structure – light as clarity and shadow as doubt, shaping how we interpret the scene's underlying themes of truth and deception. Doré’s composition acts as a stage, where figures are deliberately placed to communicate their roles and relationships. Each element, from the architecture to the characters, is carefully constructed. This thoughtful design underscores a structured vision where every aspect contributes to the overall narrative and thematic depth. The artist uses the formal elements to create a rich visual language that guides our understanding.