Avonturen van Don Quichot 1894 - 1959

Editor: So, this watercolor print, "Avonturen van Don Quichot," dating from 1894 to 1959, really strikes me as an early form of comic strip. It feels almost lighthearted, despite depicting what I assume are misadventures. How do you interpret this work, particularly within the context of its time? Curator: It's interesting you call it a comic strip, as it certainly plays with sequential narrative, predating much of what we consider the traditional comic form. However, it's crucial to understand the rise of illustrated stories within the broader print culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These kinds of illustrations gained popularity as literacy rates increased, fueling demand for accessible storytelling. Editor: So, it's more than just entertainment, it’s also reflecting social changes? Curator: Precisely. The widespread distribution of such prints, often in newspapers or as supplements, reveals the democratizing potential of art. Consider how the image of Don Quixote himself—a figure tilting at windmills—resonates with the social anxieties of a rapidly changing world. Could this image be a satirical jab at outdated social systems, as industrialization reshaped European society? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. It almost casts the narrative itself as a social commentary on these changes. Curator: Exactly! The "Adventures of Don Quixote," retold in such accessible format, invited wider public to engage with discussions around idealism versus practicality. Looking at the style, could you consider whether the colors themselves, and the way the characters are drawn, are appealing to a wide segment of the population? Editor: Now that you point it out, they seem more friendly than fine-art, maybe trying to appeal to all age groups! Curator: Right, seeing that kind of thing contextualizes these artworks and makes one wonder: what might people back then have learned or gathered by viewing a relatively easygoing artpiece of its sort, especially knowing its significance within society?