Cock and Hens

In this painting, three hens and a rooster flock together at the edge of a pond. A bundle of straw, a broken clay jar and some mussel shells lie at the water’s edge. The light falls from the left and highlights the rooster’s breast. Mussels were the food of the poor. The shells, which contain calcium, were given to chickens…

In this painting, three hens and a rooster flock together at the edge of a pond. A bundle of straw, a broken clay jar and some mussel shells lie at the water’s edge. The light falls from the left and highlights the rooster’s breast. Mussels were the food of the poor. The shells, which contain calcium, were given to chickens as a supplementary source of nutrients. This paintings, however, conveys another message. Since ancient times, oysters have been known as an aphrodisiac; the rooster was a symbol of masculinity, the lust for power, and virility.