The Battle of the Rats and Weasels
Gustave Doré brings Jean de La Fontaine’s classic fable to life with chaotic, Romantic energy in this intricate engraving. It depicts the disastrous 'Battle of the Rats and Weasels,' where the rat army is getting thoroughly thrashed. If you look closely at the center foreground, you'll see a rat leader wearing elaborate curled horns—a status symbol that ultimately doomed him. In the story, these fancy leaders couldn't fit into the escape holes when the battle turned sour, while the common soldiers survived. Doré captures the panic perfectly, with rats scrambling over each other and weasels biting at their tails.
- Technique
- wood engraving
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