Ineengedoken haan 1912

Jan Mankes made this small print, "Crouching Rooster," with an unknown printing technique around the turn of the twentieth century in the Netherlands. Mankes spent his short life outside the mainstream of the art world. He was secluded because of his poor health. A Mennonite upbringing also contributed to his distance from the dominant artistic institutions. Mankes found his subjects on his doorstep in the natural world and simple, rural life. In this small print, a rooster huddles into itself in tones of gray and white. The lack of background detail heightens the sense of isolation. Roosters in art are often symbols of pride, virility, and even aggression, but here, the rooster is diminished. Mankes gives us a glimpse into the life of a sensitive, secluded artist. The archive of letters between Mankes and his patron, A.B. Salmonson, is a wonderful resource to help us understand Mankes and the social conditions that shaped his work.