It is here where the hideous Harpies build their nests Gustave Dore (1832-1883)

Description of Gustave Doré’s illustration "The Suicide Forest"

Description of Gustave Doré’s illustration "The Suicide Forest"

During his artistic life, the artist created more than 500 illustrations for famous works, including both fairy tales and biblical subjects.

Dante Doré began writing his first illustrations for The Divine Comedy at the age of ten and continued for many years. This multi-year work became one of the artist’s most memorable creations.

In the illustration "The Forest of Suicides," Doré depicts the seventh circle of Hell described by Dante. People who have committed violence against themselves are embodied as trees, bent, naked and exhausted.

On the branches of these people-trees sit harpies, Greek mythological creatures with the torso of a bird of prey, having naked female breasts and a human face. They move from branch to branch, causing unbearable pain to the martyrs, reminding and punishing them for their deeds. Every movement of the harpy aims at tormenting the trees.

The dense forest of human trees is depicted with an impressive sense of disgust and pain. The harpies seem to smirk, trampling with their paws and scratching with their claws every twig of the afflicted.

The pseudo-romantic style in which Gustave Doré worked astounds us with his meticulous sketching and selection of the smallest details. He didn’t just depict what his imagination had generated, but brought what was happening into full realism so that the viewer was not arbitrarily an eyewitness.

Dore was so gifted with talent that even without an art education he got his first job at the age of 15. The illustrations he created were poignant to the core.

Becoming an established artist with age, Doré continued to create spiritualized, absolutely fantastic works, clearly showing the depth and sorrow of the story from within.