Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré’s "Don Quixote", is rendered in detailed black and white engraving, a medium which lends itself well to the exploration of fantasy and depth. The composition is striking, dominated by Don Quixote himself, centrally placed and riding forward, lance in hand. Doré masterfully uses light and shadow to create a dreamlike atmosphere, as can be seen in the swirling clouds above, which morph into figures and shapes mirroring Don Quixote's delusions of grandeur and distorted perception of reality. The landscape is heavily detailed, creating a contrast between the grounded reality and the ethereal visions in the sky. The stark black and white palette strips away the superficial to focus on the core themes of delusion, reality, and the power of imagination. It invites us to contemplate the dualistic nature of existence: the solid, tangible world versus the intangible realm of dreams.