Puss in Boots by Gustave Doré (Interpretation and Analysis)
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| Puss in Boots Source: Wikipedia |
The illustration depicts the character of Puss in Boots raising the alarm as another character drowns in the background; the original caption for the image read: "Help! The Marquis of Carabas is drowning."
Although the engraving clearly displays Doré’s artistic skill (he was an acknowledged master of the woodcut-engraving technique), its true charm comes from Doré’s creative use of detail. The cat is resplendent in a pair of truly extraordinary boots, a necklace of bird’s heads, and a brace of dead mice hanging from his belt. The cat stands on two legs with an animated, almost human expression. Doré’s depiction of Puss in Boots secedes in personifying the cat while also retaining the essence of his essential feline nature.
As an illustration, it is incredibly successful. It entertains the reader, directs their sympathies to the protagonist, and communicates the story. While illustrations are not often thought of by readers as art, the fact is that illustrating a book is often a more difficult task than creating a stand-alone painting. The artist has to balance the publisher’s demands, the constraints of the author’s story, the reader’s expectations, and their own creative inclinations. All in all, illustrating a book is a complex task that requires deep understanding of visual rhetoric.
In any case, Doré’s engraving of Puss in Boots remains a celebration of the manifold virtues of cats. Happy National Cat Day!
Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.
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