Men Attacking Wolves 

Jean-Baptiste Oudry’s "Men Attacking Wolves" is a vibrant drawing that presents a dynamic struggle. Oudry used black and white chalk on blue paper to bring the scene to life. Note how the composition is structured around diagonals. The spears held by the men and the bodies of the wolves create a sense of action and confrontation. Oudry masterfully uses light and shadow to define the forms, enhancing the drama and tension. This piece reflects broader cultural concerns about humanity's relationship with nature. The emphasis on form—the sharp lines of the spears, the textured fur of the wolves, the contrast between light and shadow—not only depicts a physical struggle, but also a symbolic one. Here, Oudry engages with ideas of control, survival, and the visual interpretation of conflict. The drawing’s formal qualities—the stark contrasts and dynamic composition—function as a dialogue about the precarious balance between humans and the natural world, a theme continuously re-interpreted through art.