“The Resurrection” by Gustave Doré is a notable work from the Romanticism art movement, categorized as a religious painting. It is part of the series “The Holy Bible.” The artwork, which epitomizes Doré’s characteristically intricate and emotive style, depicts the profound biblical event of Christ’s resurrection.
In the artwork, an angel, bathed in intense luminescence, is seated on a rock just outside a tomb, symbolizing the empty grave of Christ. The angel’s serene demeanor and raised hand seem to be communicating a message to the two figures, likely Mary Magdalene and another woman, who are seen ascending the rocky steps into the tomb’s entrance. The background features a dark, cavernous setting, which starkly contrasts with the ethereal light emanating from the angel and the divine scene. Below the image, a biblical passage, Matthew 28:5-6, is inscribed: “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” The meticulous detail and dramatic lighting Doré employs bolster the spiritual and emotive gravity of this pivotal moment in Christian theology.
