PROVO, UTAH.-In the four centuries since Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra published “El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha,” there have been many interpretations of the famous novel and its title character. These interpretations are reflected in the illustrations that accompany various editions of the book. To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first publication of “Don Quixote,” the Brigham Young University Museum of Art will display an exhibition of these illustrations dating from 1620 through 1885 by artists such as Gustave Doré and William Hogarth. “Images of Don Quixote: Magic, Frames and Imagined Possibilities,” will be on view from Oct.14 through Dec. 10, 2005.
The 22 books that comprise the exhibition come from various libraries across the country, including the libraries at Harvard University, Stanford University, Texas A&M and the University of Kansas, as well as the Boston Public Library. The oldest book in the exhibition is a London edition published in 1620 borrowed from the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives at Texas A&M.
The illustrations in this exhibition embody the various themes of the novel, including the blurring of fantasy and reality, the sources of power and authority, and the position of individuals within society. The images reflect the evolving interpretations of the novel throughout the centuries. As cultures and values changed, so did the understanding of Don Quixote and his actions. Over time the novel has been interpreted as an entertaining farce filled with physical humor and earthy slapstick, as a comedy of manners exposing the absurdity of knightly codes of conduct and as a quest of a noble dreamer fighting against insurmountable odds.
Often recognized as the first modern novel, Don Quixote represents a complex view of the world and one man’s attempt to make it a better place. Don Quixote is the story of an aged gentleman who, after reading about knights and chivalry, decides to resurrect knight errantry by rescuing damsels in distress and by righting wrongs. The world, however, does not want a knight like Don Quixote, and his good intentions lead to many misadventures — illustrated by the works in this exhibition.
The book is filled with magical episodes that stem from Don Quixote’s belief that reality has been altered by sorcerers. Whether real or imagined, readers can learn from Cervantes’ account of Quixote’s adventures. Students of human nature still look to Cervantes’ novel, finding ways in which everyone is a little romantic and impractical, or “quixotic.” The book itself exudes a magic quality that allows for a variety of interpretations. This exhibition demonstrates the rich diversity in the artistic interpretation of Cervantes’ masterpiece.
“Don Quixote” is one of the greatest successes in literary history. Numerous editions and translations appeared like magic after the publication of each volume of the novel — Volume I was published in 1605, Volume II in 1615. Today, only the Bible has been translated into more languages.
