Isaiah's Vision of the Destruction of Babylon 

Gustave Doré made this wood engraving, "Isaiah's Vision of the Destruction of Babylon," sometime in the mid-19th century. It is dominated by a detailed, monochrome palette, depicting ruins beneath a sky alive with swirling patterns. The dense cross-hatching creates a stark contrast between light and shadow, evoking a sense of desolation and divine retribution. Doré masterfully uses line and texture to convey the biblical prophecy. The jagged edges of the fallen structures and the chaotic arrangement of the ruins visually articulate the utter destruction foretold by Isaiah. This imagery aligns with the broader 19th-century fascination with sublime landscapes and moral lessons. The detailed rendering of the architectural fragments serves not just as a historical record but as a signifier of lost grandeur and the transience of human achievement. Note how the composition draws our eye towards the horizon, but the turbulent sky denies any sense of peace, emphasizing the permanence of this divine judgment. Doré's Babylon is not just a city destroyed but a symbol of earthly pride brought to ruin.