Don Quixote rider mod venstre, Sancho Pansa mod højre 1810 - 1873

This is an ink drawing by Wilhelm Marstrand, a 19th-century Danish artist, depicting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. It captures the spirit of Miguel de Cervantes' famous novel, a satire of chivalry and social norms. Marstrand, who was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, uses a relatively simple composition to examine the relationship between the idealistic Quixote and his pragmatic squire. The image is more than just an illustration. In its time, the Academy was a key institution shaping artistic taste. It favoured a more polished, academic style. But here we see a looser, more expressive style, perhaps a subtle commentary on the artist's own position within that system. To fully appreciate this work, we can look to period illustrations of Cervantes’ novel as well as consult the archives of the Royal Danish Academy. This helps us understand how the image creates meaning through its visual codes and cultural references. Art like this is most meaningful when considered in its social and institutional context.