_Willies own Chicken_ 1872

Otto Scholderer sketched "Willies own Chicken," a tender glimpse into childhood, here at the Städel Museum. The drawing centers around a young child holding what appears to be a chicken, a symbol of innocence and new life. Consider the motif of a child with an animal, echoing through centuries, one example being the Greek statue "Boy with Goose" dating back to the early 3rd century BC. In Scholderer's sketch, the interaction between child and animal speaks to a primal connection. The chicken, often associated with domesticity, contrasts with its deeper symbolic roots in fertility and sacrifice. This duality embodies the complex emotional landscape of childhood, blending innocence with the burdens and mysteries of the adult world. The cyclical nature of such imagery reminds us that art transcends time, resurfacing in various forms, and mirroring our collective subconscious.