Don Quixote 

Gustave Doré created this illustration for Cervantes’ "Don Quixote" using engraving techniques that highlight a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. Notice how Doré's composition is structured around a stark contrast between the dark foreground, where figures struggle against an unseen force, and the distant, snow-capped mountains that are rendered in lighter tones. The intricate network of lines creates a rich texture, especially in the turbulent sky and rugged landscape. This lends a sense of dynamism and instability to the scene. Doré masterfully uses these formal elements to depict the disoriented state of Don Quixote who is being brought home. The artist’s choice to use detailed, almost chaotic lines can be interpreted as reflecting the fractured reality experienced by the delusional knight. The way light is manipulated to obscure and reveal could suggest how delusion and reality intertwine. The artwork invites us to consider how our perceptions shape our understanding of the world.