Flea Catcher

While the boy sits on a low chair and diligently searches his pet's fur for fleas, the submissive, almost coy dog looks directly at the viewer. The exact meaning of this painting is rather ambivalent: Is it symbolic for domestic order, which would include the dog's grooming or is it a warning against being sidetracked from important things (for example, homework) and wasting time? This touching motif was copied countless times.