The Rooster 1848 - 1858

Charles Jacque created this etching of a rooster, sometime in the mid-19th century in France. It depicts a proud rooster standing amidst foliage, realized with meticulous detail through the etching technique. Roosters, beyond their barnyard reality, have long been potent symbols in French culture, embodying vigilance, courage, and pride. Consider the Gallic rooster, a national emblem of France. This choice of subject matter might then be interpreted within the context of a rising sense of French national identity, particularly relevant during the tumultuous period of the 19th century. Jacque and other artists often focused on rural life, perhaps as a reaction to increasing urbanization or as a celebration of traditional French values. To fully appreciate this etching, a social historian might delve into periodicals of the time, agricultural manuals, and folklore archives. This would help in understanding the cultural significance of the rooster, its association with French national identity, and the social context in which Jacque created this enduring image.