David Slays Goliath 

Gustave Dore made this illustration of David and Goliath using the technique of wood engraving. This was a relief process, where the artist would carve away the areas that are not to be inked, leaving a raised surface to take the ink. Looking closely, you can see the thousands of tiny lines made by Dore and his team of block cutters. This shows a complex division of labor – Dore’s skill as a draughtsman combined with the engravers’ ability to translate his vision into a printable surface. The texture achieved through engraving lends a dramatic quality to the scene. The stark contrast of light and shadow emphasizes the tension of the biblical narrative. The medium was well-suited to mass production, allowing for wide distribution of images, and reinforcing the biblical lesson through a visually arresting image. Dore's choice of wood engraving, with its capacity for detail and reproducibility, highlights the intersection of artistic skill, craft, and the means of production.