Don Quixote

Dean Jackson Meeker

The formidable, dramatic figure of one of history's most famous literary characters, Don Qixote, is wonderfully recreated in this large, mixed-technique print. The image is deceptively simple, with no background detail, just the man and his horse heading toward the viewer. Upon closer inspection, the fine details of his etched armor, the ridges along the saddle, and the horse's mane become apparent, as does Don Quixote's time-worn expression. Intentionally or not, Meeker succeeds in portraying the character as he wanted to appear: noble, chivalrous, and stoic, despite the cruel tides of change.

Dean Meeker recieved a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1959, which he used to travel to Paris to study at the studios of Mourlot and LeCouriers and Stanley William Hayter's Atelier 17. Meeker appreciated the experimental nature of Hayter's workshop began exploring the possibilities in combining serigraphy and intaglio techniques. His fascination with polymer intaglio and its ability to create a deep embossment is shown in the textures on the figure's armor.

For more information on the artist, please see our biography, above.