Don Quixote 

This illustration of Don Quixote was made by Gustave Doré in the 19th century, a period marked by significant social change and industrial advancement that influenced art and culture. Doré's image captures a scene from Cervantes' novel, where Don Quixote, a man lost in his own fantasies of chivalry, finds himself amidst a group of noblewomen. The scene is ripe with gendered dynamics, and class distinctions. Quixote, in his delusions, challenges the norms of his time, yet he remains a figure of the landed gentry, with all the privilege it implies. Doré, like Cervantes, invites us to consider how individuals construct their identities and what happens when those identities clash with the expectations of society. The emotional depth of the work lies in its portrayal of Quixote's struggle for recognition, his longing for a world of honor and adventure, and his eventual disillusionment. Through Doré’s lens, this is more than just an illustration; it's a commentary on the nature of identity, the power of imagination, and the constraints of society.