Gustave Doré was the preeminent French book illustrator of the mid-19th century, achieving widespread acclaim for his richly imaginative works. His distinctive style, characterized by a spirited embrace of the grotesque, brought a new dynamism to the illustrated book across Europe. Doré's prolific output demonstrated a unique commercial sensibility, transforming romantic tastes for the bizarre into widely accessible art. Beyond illustration, his later endeavors in painting and sculpture further showcased his ambitious artistic vision.
The initiator of the literary fairy tale genre, Charles Perrault, published in 1695 under the name of his son a collection of fairy tales Histoires ou contes du temps passes, avec des moralites, which grew better known under its subtitle, Contes de ma mere l'Oye or Tales of My Mother Goose. Perrault's publication marks the first authenticated starting-point for Mother Goose stories.