EPPH - Every Painter Paints Himself

Honoré Daumier, a prolific printmaker, painted a series of canvasses based on Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote. In this example the Don and his sidekick, Sancho Panza, ride through an arid valley towards a dead mule. Given Daumier's fascination with the dreaming knight many experts have long argued that he identified with him but without any visual evidence in support.

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When, however, Daumier later painted an artist at an easel, he positioned the palette and paintbrush at a similar angle to Don Quixote's lance and shield.

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The similar pose thus confirms what specialists have long suspected but never seen: Daumier imagined himself as Don Quixote, the dreaming poet. The Don in Daumier's painting rides through the valley like an artist. Cervantes himself must have identified with his main character, a romantic dreamer, too.

Even Daumier's generic painter conveys through his pose an identity with the poetic Don, standing before his easel like a romantic knight ready for creative struggle.

It is important to remember that forms retain some of their initial meaning even when their appearance changes. That's why it is a good idea to pay attention to forms; you never know when you will see them again.