Don Quixote 

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this intricate pen drawing, simply titled "Don Quixote" by Gustave Dore. Its flowing lines immediately pull you in. Editor: There's a melancholy here, wouldn't you say? The bleak landscape, the dejected figures... it feels like the end of a dream. And someone locked in a cage. The reality versus ideal clashing again. Curator: Absolutely. Dore's known for his incredible wood engravings and steel engravings. In this one, you see how he uses simple pen strokes to convey textures from the rough landscape, the animals' hair, and the fabric. It really demonstrates the capabilities of that medium. It would be interesting to understand the pen manufacturing and supply chain, especially paper, involved in drawings such as this. Editor: And the way he positions Quixote – defeated, confined in the wagon – it's a potent image. He's surrounded by people, yet utterly alone in his disillusionment. Thinking about systems of power at the time, Cervantes’ critique of nobility echoes Dore’s artistic interpretation through the romantic period. Were the images supporting it or tearing it down? It depends on which class we were asking. Curator: Dore's craftsmanship is on full display in how he uses cross-hatching and varying line weights to achieve depth. Also note, because it would involve an extensive support system and time, how accessible could an art like this have been to most people. Editor: Exactly. Consider too, who gets to write history, who gets to tell stories? Quixote's tale, while humorous, touches on profound issues of mental health, social inequality, and the dangers of fanaticism. We get a layered narrative of cultural significance, because its not just one figure but a mirror for wider humanity. Curator: What is intriguing is thinking about Romanticism as the start of celebrity artists. How might mass print and engravings, such as this, change or cement someone's reputation? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, that’s fascinating to consider! The blend of individual artistic genius with social structures creating a lasting cultural narrative. Curator: I suppose it only goes to show just how deeply interconnected that all this work. Editor: Indeed. I find that there's so much here to unpack – both on the page and within ourselves, when engaging with work like this.