L'Apparition
Gustave Doré, 1850–83
About this artwork
**L'Apparition by Gustave Doré** Step into the dramatic world of Gustave Doré the 19th-century French master of illustration, with *L'Apparition* (The Apparition), created between 1850 and 1883. Doré, celebrated for his vivid depictions in literary works like Dante's *Inferno* and the Bible infused this drawing with his signature Romantic intensity. Executed in brush and gray wash over chalk—a technique that allowed for masterful gradations of tone and shadow—this 18 15/16 x 14 11/16-inch sheet captures ethereal drama, likely evoking supernatural mystery amid male figures, as suggested by its tagging. The medium's subtlety highlights Doré's prowess in chiaroscuro, building tension through luminous washes that conjure ghostly presences against dark underdrawings. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department since 1962 via the Rogers Fund, this work exemplifies Doré's transition from book illustrations to standalone drawings, bridging Romanticism and emerging Realism. For visitors, it offers a glimpse into how Doré's imaginative flair brought the uncanny to life, making the spectral feel profoundly human.