"Former mural from Paul Éluard’s house in Eaubonne. ...At the same time, the motif of the fingers, which is taken from the illustration of a magic trick, also suggests a woman’s legs crossed—in conjunction with the red berries, an allegory of seduction. Pulling on the other end of the thread is a praying mantis, a symbol of aggressive sexual behavior. The representation, conceived as a magical picture puzzle, originally..."More at http://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/exhibitions/max-ernst/works