Geplukte hanen 1888

Floris Verster etched ‘Geplukte Hanen’ to depict plucked roosters stripped bare of their plumage. Throughout history, the rooster, a potent symbol, has crowed across cultures. In ancient Greece, it was linked to solar deities and virility; its proud stance echoed in countless artworks celebrating masculine prowess. Yet, here, the roosters are decidedly vulnerable. One can’t help but recall the countless depictions of flayed figures in religious art. Consider Saint Bartholomew, often shown with his own skin, a chilling symbol of martyrdom and sacrifice. In this etching, Verster strips the rooster of its bravado, revealing a raw, almost pitiful state. The act of plucking, a violent removal, echoes the psychological stripping away of defenses, laying bare the vulnerability we all share. This image resonates with a primal fear, a collective memory of mortality. The rooster's cyclical journey from a symbol of strength to one of fragility reminds us that symbols are never fixed but are constantly reinterpreted, reflecting our changing perceptions and anxieties.