Study for ‘Don Quixote’: Don Quixote and Sancho Riding, and Other Figures 1782

Curator: This is Thomas Stothard's "Study for ‘Don Quixote’: Don Quixote and Sancho Riding, and Other Figures" from the Tate Collections. It measures 235 by 106 millimeters. Editor: The immediate impression is of a flurry of quickly rendered figures, seemingly caught in motion. It feels very dynamic, almost chaotic. Curator: Stothard was prolific in book illustration, and this likely served as a preliminary sketch. Notice the varied line work – some areas are meticulously detailed, others are just suggested. Editor: Considering Don Quixote's story, one could read this flurry as representative of the chaos of social hierarchies and the role of the individual within them. Curator: Indeed, and the materials themselves – pen and ink on paper – speak to the accessibility of artistic production at the time, connecting high art with more quotidian forms of visual storytelling. Editor: The sketch emphasizes how art can be a tool for social commentary, challenging established norms through narrative and characterization. Curator: Absolutely. It's fascinating to observe how the materiality of the sketch influences its ability to convey such layered social critiques. Editor: A testament to the enduring power of art to reflect, and refract, our world.