Die gestörte, aber glücklich wieder errungene Nachtruhe (Der Floh); 16 1862

Editor: This drawing, "Die gestörte, aber glücklich wieder errungene Nachtruhe (Der Floh); 16" created in 1862 by Wilhelm Busch, shows a person seemingly hunting something near a candle. The scratchy lines and almost frantic energy makes me wonder what exactly is going on here. What jumps out to you about this work? Curator: Ah, yes, Busch! It's a dance with the domestic demons, isn't it? This drawing, it feels like a whispered secret, a late-night battle against… well, a flea, apparently! I imagine Busch chuckling to himself as he rendered this scene. It's more than just a genre scene; it’s a small window into the absurdity of human existence. Don't you think there’s something deeply relatable about being driven mad by something so tiny? Editor: Definitely! It's funny and slightly frantic. I hadn’t considered how universal that frustration could be. Curator: The beauty, I think, lies in its honesty and, perhaps, the shared misery that unites us all. What do you think he's *really* hunting here? A flea, sure. But maybe also peace, quiet, a good night's sleep... Things that always seem just out of reach, don't they? Editor: That’s a very different way to read it! It almost gives it a philosophical dimension beyond just the humor. Curator: Art is a mirror, after all, reflecting our own anxieties and aspirations. Perhaps this little flea hunt is just a microcosm of the bigger battles we all face. Good luck sleeping tonight. Editor: Thanks, I’ll need it! I'll definitely think of this drawing next time I can't sleep.