This delightful little creature was drawn in a letter to Theo in the heart of the summer of 1888. Vincent was in a poetic mood. He had just returned from an inspiring trip to the ruins of Montmajour Abbey, which was within walking distance from his famous yellow house. He had been accompanied by his friend Paul-Eugène Millet, a second lieutenant in an infantry regiment known as the Zouaves. The sketch was included to share a snapshot of his everyday life and its small yet not insignificant miracles. He added a description of the sound produced by the insects: ‘These cicadas sing at least as loudly as a frog.’