Cock (Coq) 

Joseph Hecht made this etching, “Cock,” using a painstaking printmaking process that allowed for the wide distribution of images. In early 20th-century Europe, the etching gained in popularity among artists interested in reaching a wider audience, outside the traditional institutions of art. As such, this image can be understood as a democratizing force, and this is a key part of its meaning. The etching became a medium of social commentary and a way to engage with the social and political issues of the time. This image, produced during a time of great social upheaval, evokes both the rural past, and the new urban present of Europe between the wars. Roosters often symbolize courage, vigilance, and even aggression, so it's worth asking whether Hecht chose this subject matter to comment on the social structures of his time. To understand the meaning of this work more fully, we can turn to historical archives, letters, and other documents that shed light on the artist's life and times. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.