Scene from Don Quixote (?) 

William Sharp etched this scene, possibly from Don Quixote, in the late 18th or early 19th century. A cage on a cart, pulled by oxen, dominates the composition. Note the figure confined within, juxtaposed with another figure riding with apparent freedom alongside the cart. The cage has appeared throughout history, from religious iconography to political satire, as a symbol of physical and psychological captivity. Consider how the image of Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows mirrors the emotional torment of being trapped, with the cage bars acting as self-inflicted wounds, reminders of internal constraints. The recurring motif of the cage taps into our collective memory of fear, restriction, and the primal desire for liberation. This image profoundly engages the viewer by evoking feelings of empathy and unease. Sharp’s etching captures a timeless exploration of confinement, freedom, and the human condition, echoing through the ages in ever-evolving forms.