Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré created this engraving of Don Quixote sometime in the 19th century. The print captures a moment of disillusionment, as Quixote, the self-proclaimed knight errant, lies defeated after attacking a procession of penitents. Doré, working in a time of immense social change, often used his art to explore the tensions between tradition and modernity. In this image, the hooded figures of the penitents—a stark, almost spectral presence—become a symbol of the old order, unyielding and perhaps even menacing in the face of Quixote's idealistic, yet misguided, rebellion. The use of stark monochromatic lines heightens the drama, casting Quixote’s romantic quest in a harsh, unforgiving light. As we consider Doré’s image, let’s think about the stories we tell ourselves, and the ways in which these narratives can both inspire and blind us. What happens when our ideals clash with reality, and who bears the brunt of that collision?