Wood-engraved block used to print Rudolph Erich Raspe’s Aventures du baron de Münchhausen. Illustrées par Gustave Doré.

Wood-engraved block used to print Rudolph Erich Raspe’s Aventures du baron de Münchhausen. Illustrées par Gustave Doré.

Paris:

Furne, Jouvet et Cie, éditeurs

[1866].

Purchased in part with funds donated by Terry Belanger.

Gustave Doré (1832–1883) was one of the most prolific and successful book illustrators of the 19th century. Although the bulk of his illustrations were reproduced via wood engraving, Doré himself was not trained in the technique. Instead, he drew his illustrations directly on the end-grain woodblocks using gouache and wash before handing them over to wood engravers. The block in RBS’s collection was covered in white chalk when the School acquired it.

From the collection of Rare Book School