Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré created this image of Don Quixote using black ink to illustrate the tale of the forlorn hero. The winding path and sloping horizon create a landscape that is both surreal and oppressive. Doré uses line and stippling to create dramatic contrasts between light and shadow, casting an atmosphere of melancholy and isolation. The weary figures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are dwarfed by the starkness of the terrain. The image functions as a complex semiotic system that destabilizes traditional notions of heroism. The stark composition, the stark, barren landscape and the subdued posture of the characters, all contribute to an interpretation that undermines fixed meanings of bravery, inviting us to consider the futility of human endeavor. Notice how the somber tones and rugged textures invite contemplation on the relationship between humans and their environment.