The artwork, titled “The Ninth Plague. Darkness,” was created by the distinguished artist Gustave Doré, renowned for his contributions to the Romanticism art movement. Classified as a religious painting, this piece is part of a larger series known as “The Holy Bible.”
This somber artwork graphically depicts the biblical event of the ninth plague of Egypt, where darkness enveloped the land, as described in Exodus 10:22. Doré masterfully uses intricate line work to evoke a thick, oppressive darkness contrasted starkly against the dimly illuminated landscape. Groups of people are shown in various poses of distress and disorientation, emphasizing the severity of the darkness that has befallen them. The dense clouds and the barely visible horizon amplify the sense of chaos and divine retribution vividly rendered by Doré’s skillful hand. The somber atmosphere and detailed figures make this a compelling representation of a pivotal moment of suffering and desolation.
