This is a lovely and tender song, inspired by the loss of a very dear friend. It is completely lyrical, and creates the impression of simplicity, though it is very sophisticated. In his important notebook Journal de mes melodies (Diary of My Songs) composer Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963) recorded that he had a "great liking for this short song." (It is less than two minutes long). In that book he gives Petit Visage more performance tips and discussion than any other of his songs.

Poulenc was a man given neither to bragging nor false modesty. Concerning Petit Visage he wrote "I have tried here to transfuse musically all the tenderness of Éluard's poem. I think I have succeeded...."

Paul Éluard (born Eugène Grindel, 1895 - 1952) was a surrealist poet and the source of several of Poulenc's song lyrics, including the great song cycle Tel jour, telle nuit (1936 - 1937). This poem reminded him of Poulenc's childhood friend Raymonde Linossier (1897 - 1930), a lawyer who became an expert in Oriental studies. (He even proposed a marriage of convenience to her, but she did not take it seriously.)

In his Journal Poulenc says he considered her his best advisor about his music until her death. "How many times during the years since...would I have liked to have her opinion on one or the other of my works."

Éluard's words are gentle, sad, and elusive of precise meaning. Poulenc touchingly captures a sense of deep loss, but one viewed over a healing distance of time.

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