Scharrelende kippen in een stal c. 1855 - 1859

Jozef Israëls rendered this sketch of chickens foraging in a stable with graphite on paper. The domestic fowl, humble as they seem, carry a profound weight, echoed through centuries of art and culture. Consider the chicken, a symbol deeply rooted in ancient beliefs: emblems of fertility and renewal, they are associated with the dawn and the sun's daily rebirth. In ancient Rome, chickens were consulted before important decisions, their behavior interpreted as omens. Now, fast forward to medieval altarpieces, where the humble hen appears, not as a mere farm animal, but as a symbol of Christ’s protective love, gathering its chicks as Christ gathers his followers. How curious that an animal so common could hold such spiritual significance. Even in our modern, secular world, the image of the chicken evokes feelings of warmth, home, and simplicity. It is a visceral connection to our agrarian past, a time when life was more closely tied to the rhythms of nature. Israëls' sketch then, is not just a study of chickens; it is an echo of our collective memory, a reminder of the enduring power of simple symbols.