The Ghost of a Flea

The Ghost of a Flea is a small yet powerful mythological painting executed by English creative genius William Blake. This miniature piece, held in London's Tate Gallery, made use of tempera mixture enriched with gold, artistically applied on a mahogany-type, tropical hardwood panel. Completed between 1819 and 1820, the work belongs to Blake's "Visionary Heads" series, championed by John Varley. Appealing to the fascination for otherworldly art prevalent in Britain between 1770 to 1830, Blake's work is packed with symbolism and portrays the eerie specter of a flea, blending the fantastical and spiritual to astound and entertain.