Don Quixote and Sancho Panza 

Curator: Here we have a print titled "Don Quixote and Sancho Panza" by Louis Schanker. It's a woodcut rendered predominantly in black and a vibrant blue. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: The texture hits me first. You can really see the grain of the wood in the black area, like a storm cloud rolling in. And then that bold blue… it feels like a simplified stage for this dramatic duo. Curator: That sense of drama is fitting, given the subject matter. Schanker, working mid-20th century, taps into the enduring myth of Cervantes’ characters. But he's doing so at a time when abstraction was ascendant, challenging traditional representation in art. How do you see the print's materiality contributing to its message? Editor: The starkness of the woodcut, its unforgiving lines, feels deliberate. The process speaks to the idea of a story stripped bare, reduced to its core figures and their stark choices. Think of the labor involved in carving this; the cutting away mirrors Don Quixote's relentless paring away of reality. Curator: That's insightful. Consider also the rise of printmaking in the social context of the mid-20th century. Prints democratized art, making it accessible beyond elite circles. Do you think Schanker’s choice of medium aligns with the populist ideals sometimes associated with Don Quixote's story? Editor: Definitely. There’s a humble quality here. It’s not trying to be precious or ornate. The print almost feels like it should be in a broadside, readily available, easy to distribute; art for the people about a story *of* the people, perhaps. Curator: Exactly, the choice of a accessible medium informs its message. This piece, although not dated, exists within a rich tapestry of cultural interpretations and political accessibility that the artist was surely engaging with. Editor: Looking at it again, I'm appreciating the limitations Schanker embraces. This print doesn't aim for photorealistic depiction; instead, it gets to the raw heart of the characters through its rugged materials. Curator: Indeed, the beauty lies in its deliberate reduction, inviting viewers to engage actively with the narrative. It makes one wonder about the cultural landscape, how art both reflected and challenged societal norms. Editor: A fantastic blend of material simplicity and deep literary resonance, I appreciate Schanker's commitment to the technique and narrative.