Haan met kuikens 1680 - 1723

Jacob Gole created this engraving, "Rooster with Chicks," sometime between 1660 and 1737. The composition is dominated by the rooster, its form meticulously rendered with fine lines to create texture and depth. The contrast between the rooster and the softer, blurred background evokes a sense of depth and realism. Gole's technique, relying on line and tone rather than color, invites us to consider the semiotic power of black and white. The rooster, depicted in great detail, stands as a signifier of domesticity and rural life. The precision of the lines gives a formal quality to the work, freezing the scene. What is striking is how Gole’s artistic choices reflect the broader interest in naturalism during the Dutch Golden Age. The very act of creating an artwork of something so familiar elevates the subject to a new level of cultural discourse, subtly challenging traditional hierarchies within art itself.