Stencil for Illustrated Don Quixote (Ehon Don Kihōte) Possibly 1936

Curator: Serizawa Keisuke created this stencil, "Stencil for Illustrated Don Quixote," to accompany Cervantes' novel. Editor: The bold contrast immediately evokes the starkness of Don Quixote's world, that interplay of darkness and light shaping his delusions. Curator: Right, and considering its function as a stencil, we can see the work as a facilitator of reproduction, a tool in the broader project of making and disseminating this narrative. Editor: The windmill is prominently depicted, and it’s also a symbol of thwarted ambition, and possibly madness, for Quixote. Curator: The very act of stenciling aligns with that theme, suggesting a certain repetitiveness, a labor perhaps doomed to repeat similar patterns. Editor: Even the stylized clouds echo the windmill sails, as if fate itself conspires to mock his aspirations. Curator: Indeed, it's interesting how the artist translated the narrative into a reproducible form, making it accessible to a broader audience. Editor: The imagery really hits home, capturing the heart of Quixote's poignant quest, even in a stencil.