Crucified Rooster 1964

Ivan Generalic’s ‘Crucified Rooster’ is a painting, likely made with oil or egg tempera on glass, a medium associated with the naive art tradition of the former Yugoslavia. The smooth surface and vivid color are characteristic of this technique, but it’s the subject matter that really grabs you. Generalic presents us with a rooster nailed to a cross – a startling image that blends folk symbolism with Christian iconography. Consider the labor involved: not just the artist's hand meticulously applying paint, but the implied work of farming, the life and death cycle represented by the wheat field. The rooster itself, a barnyard animal, becomes a potent symbol of sacrifice. Generalic, who came from a peasant background, often used his art to comment on social issues and rural life. By choosing such humble materials and direct imagery, he elevates the everyday and challenges our notions of what "high" art can be. It's a powerful reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places and materials.