Don Quixote consults the enchanted head at Don Antonio Moreno's place 1781

Editor: This is Augustin de Saint-Aubin's "Don Quixote consults the enchanted head at Don Antonio Moreno's place." It's a delicate engraving, and the scene feels so theatrical and staged. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The performance is key. Saint-Aubin captures a moment of spectacle, reflecting the 18th-century fascination with illusion and entertainment within elite social circles. How does this staged consultation reinforce or critique ideas of power and knowledge at the time? Editor: I guess it shows how knowledge itself could be a performance, especially for the wealthy? Curator: Precisely. Notice how the composition mimics a stage set. The elite audience consumes this "enchantment," reinforcing their social status. The print itself circulates, extending this performance beyond the immediate scene. Editor: It’s interesting to think about how this image would have been consumed then, and how its meaning shifts as it circulates now. Curator: Indeed. The artwork's journey through different contexts shapes our understanding of its original intent and its ongoing relevance.