Man Searching for Fleas

1862

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Nude

Dominant colour

Man Searching for Fleas is a 1862 by Mariano Fortuny Marsal, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Mariano Fortuny Marsal
When & what style?: 1862 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a barefoot man in a loose shirt, bending over to check his legs. His hair is wild, and he’s squinting like he’s looking for something small. The background is just a few quick lines—no details, just enough to show he’s indoors. The title says *Man Searching for Fleas*, which fits what he’s doing. The drawing is rough but full of energy, with dark lines standing out against a lighter paper. If you like this style, check out Realism next.

About the artist

Artist

Mariano Fortuny Marsal

Mariano Fortuny y Marsal (Catalan: Marià Fortuny i Marsal, pronounced ; June 11, 1838 – November 21, 1874) was a Spanish painter known for works focusing on Romantic fascination with Orientalist themes, historicist…

See the richer artist page