Don Quixote before 1890

Curator: This is Odilon Redon's "Don Quixote," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels melancholy, like a scene steeped in the quiet aftermath of a grand failure. Curator: The charcoal rendering certainly conveys that mood. Note the almost skeletal tree looming over the figure, a stark contrast to Don Quixote's diminutive form. Editor: Absolutely, and placed within the context of Redon's recurring themes, the knight's weariness speaks to the exhaustion of pursuing idealism in a world resistant to change. He is a symbol for the marginalized. Curator: Perhaps. Or could it be an illustration of the tragic, yet ultimately noble, figure whose ideals eclipse his realities? The formal elements open up the interpretation. Editor: Regardless, I find myself sympathizing with his quiet rebellion. Curator: Indeed, Redon certainly leaves us to ponder the complexities of human motivation.