Hühnerhof c. 1865

Hans Canon painted this study of a ‘Hühnerhof’, or chicken yard, sometime in the mid-19th century. The image shows the naturalistic treatment of animals that was becoming popular at the time. But look at how the rooster dominates the image, strutting around the farmyard, puffed up with pride. Canon was working in Austria at a time of revolution and social change. The Austrian empire was anxious about challenges to its authority, and artists were increasingly aware of their position within the political system. The rooster in this picture is perhaps a symbol of those in charge, puffed up with self-importance and jealously guarding their position. To better understand this, we might look at other animal paintings of the time and Canon's other works to see whether this kind of imagery was common. The meaning of art always depends on its historical and institutional context.