“The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones” is an evocative piece by Gustave Doré, completed in 1866 as part of a series for “The Holy Bible.” This artwork is an engraving, executed in the Romantic style, and it falls under the genre of religious painting. The engraving depicts a scene inspired by the biblical prophecy from the Book of Ezekiel, where the prophet is shown a valley filled with dry bones that represent the house of Israel. Doré’s interpretation is a dramatic and spiritual representation of divine power and resurrection.
The artwork showcases a detailed and shadowy valley filled with human skeletal remains. In the center, a towering figure, which appears to be the prophet Ezekiel, is silhouetted against a brooding sky. He stands above the bones, which are starting to be clothed with flesh as they come to life, embodying the biblical miracle. Around the prophet, the bones are in various stages of reanimation, with some skeletons partially standing, while others are merely reconvening as whole bodies. The work is imbued with a profound sense of supernatural awe, capturing the viewer’s attention with its intricate depiction of the bones and the divine process of resurrection. Dark clouds loom overhead, with a break in the turmoil allowing a bright light to shine down, emphasizing the sense of hope and rebirth.
