Poultrys Paradise 1909

Percy A. Grassby created this etching, "Poultry's Paradise," using a metal plate to transfer the image onto paper. The printmaking process gives the piece a tactile, almost gritty feel. Notice the fine lines that create depth and shadow, particularly in the worn wood of the coop and the delicate textures of the chickens' feathers. Grassby's choice of subject matter elevates the everyday. The humble chicken coop, a symbol of rural labor, becomes worthy of artistic attention. The scene is rendered with a careful observation that suggests the dignity of simple, working lives. By focusing on such a commonplace structure and imbuing it with artistic merit through careful etching, Grassby challenges the traditional hierarchy between high art and the ordinary aspects of daily life. It reminds us that beauty and meaning can be found in the most unexpected places, seen through the lens of craft and attention to the material world.