Dore vs. Birk

     When Sandow Birk came to speak at the movie screening he mentioned how the Dore illustrations had been an influence on his reading of The Divine Comedy. This is clearly seen by some of Birk’s illustrations that give an updated spin on some of Dore’s prints. One of my favorite pairs comes from Canto 1 with Dore’s “The Forest” and Birk’s “Dante in the Wilderness.” (For a better view of Birk’s piece you’ll need to click on the second picture)

     Both artists have the protagonist lost and spotlighted in their own “wood.” For Dore this is a literal forest, but Birk imagines a city scape. This is perfect for Dante’s text because it hints at one of the deeper meanings of the poet’s text. This is not simply a journey through Hell but a journey through Florence, or society as a whole. The Comedy offers many descriptions fitting a city that Dore leaves entirely out of his artwork. But Birk was wise enough to pick up on this motif. The towering trees are substituted for imposing buildings, blocking any light, guidance, and knowledge that may come from above. And the use of back alleys and run-down buildings shows that this is a society that is crumbling to pieces before everyone’s eyes. Also, both subjects are facing toward a deeper, darker path, yet they look over their shoulder. It appears that both men are unsure of which way to go and terrified of what lies ahead, and possibly behind, them. I think one of the most crucial parts of both of these pieces of art lies in how the artist captures the despair the pilgrim is experiencing prior to being united with his guide and protector, Virgil. Before the spirit of Virgil arrives the man is completely lost in his own respective wood. Yet after the dead poet joins the pilgrim they may move ahead into this deeper part of the wood and stop glancing over their shoulder in uncertainty.

     Many of Birk’s spins on the Dore illustrations are perfect for capturing the societal theme found in Dante’s text. But it is more interesting to me how Birk seems able to stay true to both the text and the medieval illustration, while still finding room to seamlessly infuse it with an original and modern interpretation. I only wish that Birk could have done this for more of the cantos.