Drie kippen en twee hanen 1594

Nicolaes de Bruyn created this print, "Three hens and two roosters", using engraving. The print was made in 1594, in a period where the Dutch Republic was defining itself against the backdrop of religious and political conflict. In the late 16th century, animal allegories weren't uncommon, and domestic animals were often used to mirror the social structures of human society. The prominent placement of the roosters could be interpreted as a statement on masculinity and dominance. Meanwhile, the hens, traditionally associated with domesticity and nurturing, stand nearby. Considering the socio-political backdrop, the animals may also represent the complex dynamics of power, gender, and social roles. The landscape provides an atmospheric setting. In this small tableau, De Bruyn invites us to reflect on the hierarchies that shape both the natural and human worlds.