Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré captured the final moments of Don Quixote, using ink to bring Cervantes's tragic hero to life. Here, the deathbed scene becomes a stage for emotional iconography. Observe the grief-stricken faces; their tears and gestures echo the ancient Greek tradition of mourning. This recalls the lamentations depicted on classical sarcophagi, where mourners surround the deceased. The figure slumped in a chair, overwhelmed by sorrow, is reminiscent of the Virgin Mary in depictions of the Pietà. The image is emotionally charged; it is a study in collective sorrow. It taps into a shared human experience of loss, echoing across centuries. Dore’s work reminds us that these archetypal expressions of grief transcend time, continually resurfacing in our collective consciousness.