The Veteran 

This is an engraving by Gustave Doré, a master of the medium, whose dramatic use of light and shadow creates a palpable sense of depth and texture. The composition is structured around a central figure, the veteran, who is framed by the architectural elements of the archway and the steps. Notice how Doré employs chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and dark, to direct the viewer's eye. The areas of deep shadow not only enhance the emotional intensity but also serve to isolate and emphasize the figures gathered around the storyteller. Doré’s interest lies not just in illustrating a scene but in creating a visual hierarchy. This is a semiotic system of signs where light signifies importance and shadow suggests mystery. The very act of storytelling becomes a powerful form of representation, challenging fixed narratives and engaging with new ways of understanding history and memory. The formal qualities of light and shadow are thus inseparable from the work's larger cultural and philosophical implications.