“The Way to the Upper World” is an illustration by Gustave Doré, a prodigious artist associated with the Romanticism movement. This artwork is part of the series created for “The Divine Comedy,” a monumental literary work by Dante Alighieri. As is characteristic of Romanticism, the artwork conveys a potent sense of emotion, complementing the epic narrative it depicts.
In the artwork, we are presented with a dramatic and textured landscape. Two figures, presumably Dante, the poet, and his guide, Virgil, are depicted on the cusp of leaving the dark and austere realms of the underworld. Their posture reflects a moment of pause and contemplation as they prepare to ascend to the brighter, life-affirming realm of the upper world. The figures are dwarfed by the immense scale of their surroundings, emphasizing the insignificance of man against the sublime force of nature—a recurring theme of Romanticism.
The composition balances darkness with the promise of light, directing the viewer’s gaze through the craggy rocks towards the farthest point where a gentler landscape and a luminous sky await. The meticulous engraving technique used by Doré imbues the scene with texture and depth, remarkably translating the ethereal journey from Dante’s vivid literary descriptions into a visual form. Such illustrations by Doré were crucial in visualizing the complex layers of Dante’s narrative, rendering them accessible and captivating to a wider audience.
