Rentrée joyeuse et triomphale des Don-Quichottes Prussiens en Allemagne, après la conquête de la France, sous conduite de l'Aigle autrichien (The Joyous Triumphal Entry of the Prussian Don Quixote into Germany after the Conquest of France, Accompanied by the Austrian Eagle) 1787 - 1797

This hand-colored etching, made anonymously, satirizes the Prussian and Austrian leadership following a perceived conquest of France. Note the figure resembling Don Quixote, the famed literary knight-errant, a symbol of misguided idealism. In the context of this image, the artist uses the figure of Don Quixote to mock the hubris of Prussian leaders. This connects with the long tradition of associating the figure of Don Quixote with folly. In ancient Greece, the owl symbolized wisdom, but the artist's intent here is to subvert the traditional association of the eagle with power and authority, presenting it instead as a comical, almost pathetic figure. The cyclical nature of symbols ensures that their meanings are continuously re-evaluated, reflecting our collective psyche. The artist taps into deep-seated cultural anxieties about power, leadership, and national identity, prompting viewers to confront these emotions on a visceral level.