This exhibition at Fundación Canal gathers, for the first time, the two complete series that Gustave Doré and Robert Rauschenberg dedicated to Dante's Inferno. Nearly a century separates the two interpretations, and 111 woodcuts and lithographs set them in direct conversation across the nine circles.
What it is
Dante wrote the Inferno in the early fourteenth century as the first part of the Divine Comedy. Its nine circles, filled with sin, the condemned and unsettling landscapes, have inspired artists for centuries, and El infierno de Dante. Doré y Rauschenberg follows that thread through two radically different visual languages.
The show brings together 76 woodcuts by Doré, made in the nineteenth century, and 35 offset lithographs by Rauschenberg, published in the 1960s. Doré offers a dramatic, monumental and medievalist vision. Rauschenberg answers with a fragmentary, contemporary eye that turns the Inferno into a reflection on the society of his own time.
The exhibition is curated by Lola Durán Úcar and invites visitors to move through the nine circles one by one. A catalogue published by the foundation deepens this meeting between literature and visual creation.
Why it's worth your time
Seeing both complete series together is the draw: two readings of the same poem, a century apart and built with different tools, one in woodcut and one in offset lithography. It suits readers of the Divine Comedy and anyone interested in how an old text keeps gaining new meanings, and the foundation pairs it with activities for families and schools.
Practical info
Free guided tours run on non-holiday Mondays at 15:30 and 16:15, last 40 minutes and take up to 20 people, with places booked online. Family visit-workshops for children aged 6 to 12 are held on weekends at 10:30 and 16:30, cost €8 per participant and last two hours. The exhibition is in the Sala Mateo Inurria 2.
FAQ
Is Dante's Inferno: Doré and Rauschenberg free?
Yes, access to the exhibition is free. It runs from 7 October 2026 to 5 January 2027 in the Sala Mateo Inurria 2 of Fundación Canal. Some activities carry a fee, such as the family visit-workshops, which cost €8 per participant.
What will I see in the exhibition?
You will see 111 pieces: 76 woodcuts by Gustave Doré from the nineteenth century and 35 offset lithographs by Robert Rauschenberg from the 1960s. Both series are shown complete for the first time and cover Dante's Inferno, from its nine circles to the central pit of the Malebolge.
Who curated the exhibition at Fundación Canal?
The curator is Lola Durán Úcar. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Fundación Canal, which examines how Doré and Rauschenberg approached Dante's Inferno almost a century apart, using radically different artistic languages, from woodcut to offset lithography.
Are there activities for families and children?
Yes. Family visit-workshops for children aged 6 to 12 take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 16:30. They last two hours, cost €8 per participant and need at least one adult to book. The foundation also runs school visits.
Are there free guided tours?
Yes. Free guided tours run on non-holiday Mondays at 15:30 and 16:15 and last 40 minutes. Groups are limited to 20 people, 19 plus the guide, and places must be booked online. Tours use a guiding system handed out when you validate your ticket.
