The Flea (La Puce)

Expand

IIIFView PDF

The Flea (La Puce)

Artist Pablo Picasso (Spanish (active France), 1881-1973)

Date1942

DimensionsOverall: 14 5/8 x 11 1/8 in. (37.2 x 28.2 cm);
Image: 12 7/8 x 8 3/4 in. (32.8 x 22.3 cm)

MediumLift ground aquatint, etching and drypoint on china paper

ClassificationPrints

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1985.127

Not on View

Label TextAs the flea was not described by Buffon, it was not used to illustrate the book, but was added to the deluxe edition suites. Obviously, Picasso found it hard to resist an opportunity to render, yet again, the lovely female form to humorously suggest the presence of an annoying insect. The facial features were inspired by Marie-Threse Walter, his companion in the early 1930s. The French would probably catch on to Picasso's visual pun of a "pucelle" (a young girl or maiden) snatching a flea ("puce").