Studieblad met vijf kippen 1720 - 1792

Curator: Here we have "Studieblad met vijf kippen," or "Study Sheet with Five Chickens," a pencil drawing on paper attributed to Aert Schouman, dating from the late 18th century. Editor: They're rendered so softly. It gives the impression of seeing chickens through a light fog. The lack of color certainly enhances the simplicity. Curator: Schouman likely made this drawing as a study, a preparation for a larger, more complex composition. The placement on the page, almost scattered, is characteristic of a preparatory sketch, enabling close inspection of form. It is fascinating how the use of readily available materials emphasizes artmaking as labor. Editor: And chicken motifs are definitely prominent across many cultures. Here they have a placid presence, their stillness maybe points to ideas of domesticity and farm life that would’ve resonated deeply with the 18th century audiences. There is even something heraldic about their proud profiles. Curator: Indeed. Looking at the density of line work, one observes different pressures exerted from the artist’s hand as they were mapping out shapes, light and shadow with humble pencil strokes. Editor: Did chickens symbolize specific values then? It could also reflect our dependence on animals for sustenance; there is almost something sacrificial there. The drawing has a kind of muted innocence. Curator: The simplicity in form also prompts thought to the value Schouman and society placed on agricultural work as a trade, how art production echoes other workaday practices. Perhaps he captured the cultural emphasis on such things by taking these subjects to paper. Editor: Fascinating, how this simple drawing gives chickens a layered, almost symbolic depth beyond their literal form. Curator: Indeed, and by concentrating on materials and means of production we are able to more critically consider the artistic value judgments across time. Editor: And I think considering chickens’ symbolic resonance, past and present, provides such richness in understanding everyday visual language of cultural values, that still remain today.