“An Enemy of the Crusaders,” created by Gustave Doré, resides within the Romanticism art movement and is categorized as an illustration. This artwork is part of the series “Bibliothèque des Croisades.”
The artwork depicts a dramatic scene, illustrative of the Romanticism era. In the foreground, two figures, dressed in elaborate robes, stand on a rocky outcrop surveying a besieged city below them. The sky is rendered in tumultuous, swirling strokes, adding to the sense of drama and tension. Smoke rises from the city, suggesting chaos and destruction. The detailed engraving style heightens the sense of realism and intensity inherent in this historical moment, capturing the dire straits of the Crusaders, afflicted by famine and a shortage of water, as indicated by the inscription.
