Artwork
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood is an oil painting by Gustave Doré. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
About this work
Overview
Gustave Doré’s oil on canvas, dated 1862, portrays a nocturnal interior scene that has been part of the National Gallery of Victoria’s collection. The work presents a young girl in a red headscarf and white nightgown lying in bed, accompanied by a bear dressed similarly. The composition is dominated by a single, unseen light source that casts deep shadows across the room.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau captures a moment of alarm: the girl’s wide eyes stare beyond the picture’s edge, suggesting an unseen threat.
The tableau captures a moment of alarm: the girl’s wide eyes stare beyond the picture’s edge, suggesting an unseen threat. The bear, unusually attired in a nightcap and nightgown, rests beside her, its presence unsettling the domestic setting. The juxtaposition of innocence and danger hints at a reinterpretation of the classic Little Red Riding Hood narrative, emphasizing vulnerability within a familiar space.
Technique & Style
Doré employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing stark contrasts between illuminated surfaces and enveloping darkness. The limited light highlights the red scarf and the bear’s fur, while the surrounding gloom recedes, creating a dramatic focal point. Brushwork is rendered with careful modeling, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence that intensifies the tension of the scene.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1862, the painting entered the holdings of the National Gallery of Victoria, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s 19th‑century interest in European narrative art, and it stands as an example of Doré’s lesser‑known ventures into oil painting beyond his celebrated illustrations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré was a French printmaker, illustrator, painter, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor.
