Roosters and Chicks 1928

Xu Beihong painted this ink-and-color work, Roosters and Chicks, during a period of great social upheaval in China. Through his mastery of traditional brushwork, Xu Beihong creates a seemingly simple scene of barnyard life. Yet, in China, images of roosters often carry symbolic weight. They can represent courage, fidelity, and perseverance. Consider the historical context. Xu Beihong lived through the decline of the Qing dynasty, the rise of nationalism, and the Second Sino-Japanese War. Was he using the rooster as a symbol of national pride and resilience? We might look to his biography, his essays, and the political climate of the time for clues. What was the role of the artist in a nation struggling for its identity? How did traditional artistic forms adapt to the demands of a modernizing society? By examining the social and institutional context of this painting, we can move beyond a simple appreciation of its aesthetic qualities and begin to understand its deeper cultural significance.