Caricature with two men on a mule 1575 - 1599

This etching by Giovanni Ambrogio Brambilla depicts a humorous scene of two men riding a mule, with the larger man perched precariously atop the smaller one. The exaggerated proportions and comical expressions are typical of caricature, a style that was popular in Renaissance Italy. The inscription at the top of the print, "Accio che l'asinel no sia si carco," translates to "So that the donkey is not so burdened," further emphasizing the satirical nature of the artwork. This work, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a testament to Brambilla's skill in capturing the absurdity of everyday life.