Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré created this 'Don Quixote' illustration with engraving, using stark contrasts and intricate lines to depict a scene of both realism and fantasy. Notice how the composition plunges us into the depths of a dark cave. Doré masterfully uses light to guide our eyes. It illuminates Don Quixote, standing guard, and the ghostly figures conjured by Montesinos. The artist plays with depth using the density of lines to suggest receding space and the ethereal nature of the specters. The stark contrast between light and dark isn't just for drama. It serves a structural role, emphasizing the tension between the tangible and the imagined. The density of the lines creates a rich texture, almost palpable, drawing us into Don Quixote's hallucinatory experience. This image challenges fixed boundaries between reality and illusion, reflecting broader philosophical questions about perception and representation.