The artwork under discussion is an illustration by Gustave Doré titled “Him, fast sleeping, soon he found In labyrinth of many a round, self-rolled,” part of the series created for John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost.” This piece stands as a representative work of the Romanticism art movement, a genre characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and nature, particularly evident in Doré’s interpretations of literary classics.
In the artwork, a dramatic and finely detailed scene is depicted in black and white, a hallmark of Doré’s engraving style. The central figure, presumably Satan, is portrayed with a poised yet sinister elegance, marking a stark contrast with the serene backdrop. His large, bat-like wings are outstretched, reinforcing both his dominance over the scene and his fallen angel status. Beneath him, coiled upon the desolate and rugged ground, lies a serpent, an embodiment of treachery and deception, possibly indicative of Satan’s own serpentine guise in “Paradise Lost.”
The background lays out a desolate landscape that stretches out to a distant horizon, possibly symbolizing the vast and unforgiving nature of Hell as depicted in Milton’s text. Bare, twisting branches claw at the sky to the left, reinforcing the desolation of the setting, while the far-reaching expanses open up on the right, suggesting an unfathomable expanse beyond. Doré’s command of light and shadow is evident, creating a textured ground that leads the viewer’s eye through the winding ‘labyrinth’ mentioned in the title.
Overall, Doré’s interpretation for Milton’s narrative is rich with symbolism and masterful in its composition, capturing the grandeur and the menacing grace of the subject with exceptional skill and offering a window into the Romanticist’s perspective on this seminal work of English literature.
