Don Quixote Attacking the Biscayan c. 1780s

Curator: Here we have Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "Don Quixote Attacking the Biscayan," a pencil drawing dating back to the 1780s. Editor: Oh, this is intense! I'm immediately hit by this flurry of action—horses rearing, figures lunging, it feels so raw and impulsive. You can almost hear the clatter of hooves and clash of steel. Curator: Indeed. Fragonard captures a key moment from Cervantes' "Don Quixote". What strikes me is his use of line—a whirlwind of hatching and cross-hatching that conveys movement. He really knew how to stage narrative in pictorial format. Editor: Yes, I can see how it breathes life into that absurd bravery! You almost root for Don Quixote, lost in his delusions. But I wonder, the drawing feels somewhat unfinished. Do you think he intended to develop it further? Curator: That’s the enigma, isn't it? These drawings might've been preparations for larger, more polished pieces. Also, bear in mind Fragonard was known for working fast. Think about how he contrasts light and shadow, even in this preparatory work, creating depth and drama. Look at Don Quixote with that big shield… quite the sight, isn't he? Editor: Definitely a striking choice that contrasts with the more elaborate helmet. And what about that chaos in the background? I sense figures tumbling and bodies contorted, lost to this madness. I think I almost get some theater and dramatic irony out of it. Curator: Absolutely, those barely sketched background figures reinforce the sense of mayhem and highlight Don Quixote’s individual, rather doomed quest. It’s pure Romanticism, really. Editor: The longer I gaze, the stronger this immediacy resonates. A sketch, yes, but such vitality! It is amazing that in just a couple of pencil strokes, this dynamism is so present. Curator: For me, I get caught up in how Fragonard masterfully uses a limited medium to show action, psychology, and the enduring power of myth. Editor: It really is amazing to see Fragonard using minimal strokes that bring out the depth of human character! Curator: Well put! That certainly seems an apt reflection on the sketch before us.