Idylls of the King 

Gustave Doré created this dramatic scene with engraving. Doré lived in a time of rapid social and political change in France, a period marked by industrialization, urbanization, and growing class tensions. Doré gained renown illustrating literary works, and here he captures the mythical and romantic elements of Tennyson’s poem, ‘Idylls of the King’. We see Merlin in his cave, an ambiguous figure in Arthurian legend, often depicted as an old, wise, and sometimes, captive man. Merlin embodies themes of knowledge and isolation, a figure caught between worlds. Doré's work, like much of Victorian art, often idealizes the past, reflecting a nostalgia for a seemingly simpler, more virtuous time. Yet, it also subtly engages with contemporary issues. Notice the contrast between the illuminated figures descending the steps and Merlin in his dark, overgrown cave. What does it mean to depict wisdom as reclusive? How does the artist want us to think about access to knowledge? This work invites us to reflect on our relationship to history, knowledge, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past.