Kippen 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis sketched these chickens on paper with graphite, their forms both fleeting and eternal. These are not mere birds; they are symbols laden with cultural weight. Consider the rooster, a relative of these hens, strutting through history as a solar symbol, its crow heralding the dawn, a potent image of vigilance and rebirth, echoing in ancient myths and medieval bestiaries. Yet, here, these chickens peck at the ground, their focus immediate, their concerns terrestrial, a stark contrast to the rooster's celestial pronouncements. The chicken, often a symbol of domesticity and sustenance, invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and death. Its image transcends time, resurfacing in various forms across cultures. The persistent motif of the chicken, both ordinary and symbolic, engages viewers on a subconscious level.