The Muleteer Attacking Don Quixote as He Lies Helpless on the Ground c. 1780s

This is a drawing, likely a preparatory sketch, by the French Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The drawing features a scene from the famous novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. In the scene, Don Quixote, a knight-errant, lies helpless on the ground as a muleteer, or a man who drives mules, attacks him. This artwork depicts the moment of violence and the vulnerability of the delusional knight. Fragonard's dynamic composition and use of light and shadow create a sense of drama and movement. This is characteristic of his style, known for playful and sensual depictions of the Rococo era.