Sancho Panza is zijn ezel kwijt 1732 - 1733

Editor: This engraving, made by Bernard Picart around 1732 or 1733, is called "Sancho Panza is zijn ezel kwijt" which means "Sancho Panza has lost his donkey." It depicts a scene from Don Quixote, and what strikes me most is the contrast between the frantic energy of Sancho and the stoic pose of Don Quixote. What can you tell me about its historical and cultural contexts? Curator: Indeed. This image is steeped in the socio-political dynamics of 18th-century Europe. Consider Cervantes' original text as a satire of aristocratic ideals, which was incredibly popular at the time. Picart's engraving, however, goes further. How do you think the depiction of Sancho, who is lower class, relates to ideas of social mobility at that time? Editor: Well, he's certainly the picture of disarray, almost cartoonish, as though mocking the anxieties of the working class when removed from their basic necessities and forms of survival... Was Picart offering commentary on the perceived chaos of a society undergoing significant change? Curator: Precisely! The engraving's apparent simplicity belies a subtle critique. Notice the detail in the landscape and the contrast between light and shadow. In that light, does the donkey become symbolic of something more than just property, such as a loss of agency, or perhaps tradition, within a rapidly modernizing world? Editor: I never thought about it that way, but it’s true: The lost donkey does amplify Sancho’s helplessness. Viewing this through the lens of societal upheaval helps contextualize the artist's intention. Thanks! Curator: And thank you. Thinking about how art can act as social commentary keeps these older pieces relevant today.