An etching by Claude Gillot, 'The Ass (L'Afne)' is an illustration from 'Fables Nouvelles', depicting a rustic barn scene with an ass and a cow, rendered in fine lines typical of the artist's style.

This etching by Claude Gillot (1673-1722) presents a scene titled 'L'Afne' (The Ass), part of a series of illustrations for 'Fables Nouvelles'. Gillot, a French painter, decorator, and printmaker, was an important figure in the transition from the decorative style of Louis XIV to the more relaxed Rococo. He trained under Jean-Baptiste Corneille and was associated with the Académie Royale. His work often featured theatrical and comedic subjects, influencing later artists such as Watteau. The print depicts an interior barn scene with an ass seated on straw in the lower left. A cow stands to the right, with hay or foliage behind it. The composition is rendered with fine, delicate lines, typical of etching. The scene is enclosed by a rough wooden structure, suggesting a rustic setting. Above the image, the text 'Fables Nouvelles' and 'Fable Septiesme' indicate its place within a collection of fables. The print's linear quality and attention to detail are characteristic of Gillot's style, reflecting the artistic trends of the early 18th century.