Die gestörte, aber glücklich wieder errungene Nachtruhe (Der Floh); 7 1862

This drawing, "Die gestörte, aber glücklich wieder errungene Nachtruhe (Der Floh)" by Wilhelm Busch, presents a moment of domestic disturbance with an archetypal twist. At its center, we see a man contorted in his bed, presumably disturbed by the titular flea. Consider how this scene echoes the ancient motif of the tormented sleeper. From nightmare demons of Mesopotamian lore to the incubi of medieval Europe, the idea of unseen forces disrupting our rest has long haunted the human psyche. Busch’s flea, a tiny but potent symbol of irritation, taps into this collective anxiety. Interestingly, the act of scratching itself can be traced back to the iconography of Saint Jerome who would be typically shown removing a thorn from a lion's paw; the gesture transcends mere discomfort and connects to the realm of the subconscious. The depiction of the flea becomes a manifestation of inner anxieties and unresolved conflicts. The image speaks to a timeless struggle against unseen irritations, reminding us that even in our most private moments, we are not immune to the echoes of the past.