Don Quixote de la Mancha c. 1855

Célestin Nanteuil created this image of Don Quixote de la Mancha using lithography, likely in the mid-19th century, a period marked by Romanticism’s fascination with the medieval and the exotic. The artist, situated within a society undergoing significant shifts in class structure, presents us with a figure embodying both nobility and delusion. Quixote, with his gaunt frame and determined gaze, is a poignant study in idealism. Note how Nanteuil captures the emotional complexity of a man who sees a different world than the one he inhabits. Gender, too, plays a role here; Quixote's chivalry, though mocked, reveals contemporary expectations of masculinity and honor. As we consider Nanteuil’s Don Quixote, we’re invited to reflect on the intersections of identity, class, and gender, all while contemplating our own quests for meaning.