La première danseuse 1912

Louis Glackens created this satirical illustration, 'La première danseuse', using pen, ink and watercolour. The colours are muted and earthy, underpinned by the confident ink work which gives the whole image such structure, such form. Isn't it funny when something so absurd has such solid bones? I mean, look at that chicken! A chicken in a tutu, en pointe, being presented with flowers by what I can only assume is supposed to be Uncle Sam. The whole thing is just so bizarre. And the colours, they're not, like, trying to be pretty. They're there to do a job. A job of making this chicken look as ridiculous as possible! For me, it has echoes of Hogarth, in the way it uses this slightly silly image to critique and poke fun at society. High art versus low culture, or maybe just a chicken with a dream. You decide.