The Finding of Moses 

This is Gustave Doré’s “The Finding of Moses,” an engraving that captures a pivotal moment from the Book of Exodus. Doré, working in 19th-century France, a period marked by both religious fervor and secular questioning, visualizes the story with a dramatic intensity characteristic of his style. Doré frames the scene where Pharaoh's daughter discovers the infant Moses in a basket. The artwork is laden with the politics of identity. Moses, born into a marginalized, enslaved community, is placed in a position to be raised in privilege and power. The compassion of Pharaoh's daughter—a woman of the oppressor class—complicates this narrative and introduces a perspective of empathy. Doré highlights the emotional weight of the encounter, emphasizing the vulnerability of the child against the backdrop of a complex social hierarchy. This engraving isn't just an illustration of a biblical story; it's an invitation to consider how compassion and personal choices can intersect with broader themes of oppression, identity, and destiny.