Plate with rooster and chicks c. 1890 - 1894

This plate with rooster and chicks was crafted by Escalier de Cristal. The composition is dominated by the imposing figure of the rooster on the left, balanced by a hen and small chicks scattered across a stylized field. The plate uses a limited color palette. Consider the formal arrangement: the rooster's downward gaze directs our attention towards the hen, creating a visual dialogue. The use of negative space is crucial here; the blank areas emphasize the isolation and vulnerability of each figure, challenging conventional notions of pastoral harmony. The crude grass marks destabilize any sense of conventional space. The rooster appears in the process of turning into something monstrous. The seemingly benign subject matter subverts expectations. The artist disrupts traditional rural life imagery by introducing a subtle unease. What appears decorative on the surface invites deeper reflection on themes of protection, domesticity, and the precarious balance of nature.