The Ailing Cricket

Jean-Ignace-Isidore Grandville

National Gallery of Art

This is a print of anthropomorphic bugs in a colorful scene. The scene features three standing creatures with gray, wrinkly heads similar to those of worms, who appear to be attending to another creature who sits in a blue chair on the right. This creature has a green-and-yellow face similar to that of a cricket with two tall antennae. All four creatures are dressed extravagantly, with long jackets in shades of pale blue, green, orange, and brown over shirts, vests, and trousers. Two of the worm-like creatures have tall top hats, and one has a walking stick and yellow gloves on its human-like hands. They all face the seated cricket, and one stands beside the cricket, holding one of its wrists. To the right of the cricket is a table that holds glass bottles and a folded paper or pamphlet. The print is centered on off-white paper, and there are some lines of text above and below it.