École française (XX) - Le poulailler

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to the French school, depicting a lively coop full of hens and roosters of various plumages, gathered among boards, earth, and areas of light and shadow. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the great pictorial quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 54x62x7 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 38x46 cm.
· Oil on panel hand-signed by the artist at the bottom right.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a precious frame (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description.

The painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The price of shipping covers both the cost of professional packing and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a lively chicken coop scene featuring a numerous group of hens and roosters gathered in a rural space of earth, wood, and light and shadow. The birds occupy almost the entire composition and appear distributed on different planes: some cluster in the foreground, others move through the center, and several are located in higher or more distant areas. The variety of plumages—white, black, brown, gray, and reddish—adds visual richness, while the warm background light contrasts with the deep shadow on the right and creates a daily, vivid, and deeply pastoral atmosphere.

The foreground is dominated by an accumulation of birds overlapping each other. Their rounded bodies form a compact mass of blacks, browns, grays, creams, and whites. This concentration conveys the sense of an active coop, where the animals continually move in search of food.

The closest birds appear seen from different angles. Some show their back and tail, while others turn their heads to one side or remain partially hidden. The variety of postures avoids repetition and adds spontaneity to the scene.

In the lower central area stands out a hen with very dark plumage. Its broad body is formed by blacks, browns, and bluish tones, with small reddish reflections. The silhouette blends with the ground shadows but remains clear enough to differentiate.

Around it appear several birds in lighter tones. White, gray, and cream plumages contrast with the dark hens and create an irregular rhythm. Some reddish crests protrude among the bodies, adding small color accents.

The crests and wattles constitute important chromatic details. Their reds and pinks interrupt the earthy range and draw the eye to the heads. The repetition of these small warm dots helps guide the viewer across the entire group.

On the lower left side one observes a light-colored hen leaning toward the ground. Its posture suggests it is pecking or looking for food. The neck descends and the head approaches the earth, conveying a daily and natural action.

Next to it appear brown and dark shapes corresponding to other partially hidden birds. This superposition reinforces the sense of abundance and allows imagining a much larger group continuing beyond the image limits.

In the central lower area a brown and grayish-plumed hen with a light neck is distinguished. Its body is oriented diagonally and helps connect the foreground with the birds farther away. The cream tones of its feathers receive soft light.

To the right, another dark bird occupies a position near the edge. Its silhouette remains partly shrouded in the shadow created by the tall vertical mass. Brown and reddish reflections convey the volume of its body.

The coop floor is formed by an extensive mix of browns, ochres, grays, violets, and small yellow reflections. The different stains suggest disturbed earth, straw, stones, and shadowed areas. The surface seems marked by the constant movement of the birds.

In some sectors there are light, yellowish bands that could correspond to straw or illuminated areas. These lines add movement and visually separate the different groups. The ground does not function as a neutral background but as an essential part of the rural environment.

The mass of foreground birds forms a horizontal base that spans almost the entire width. Their curved backs create a sequence of undulations akin to a small landscape within the coop itself. This repetition provides unity and stability.

In the center of the composition rises a dark-plumed bird with light and reddish areas. Its upright posture and greater visibility make it one of the main focal points. It could be a rooster or a chicken distinguished by its attentive attitude.

This central figure seems to advance toward the viewer or place itself above the group. Its head is raised while the body remains surrounded by other birds. The red crest and the dark neck stand out against the warm background.

Beside it appears another light hen, with white and gray plumage. The pairing creates a light-dark contrast. Their slightly different postures reinforce the impression of movement.

Further to the right a brown hen with an elongated silhouette is observed. Its reddish head rises and seems to be oriented toward the upper part. This arrangement introduces a diagonal and enlivens the middle plane.

Behind these birds, smaller and more diffuse shapes appear. Some show white plumage, others brown and dark tones. The size reduction helps establish depth and suggests the coop continues toward the background.

In the upper left stands out a hen situated on a raised wooden structure. Its clear body and small reddish areas contrast with the dark background. The elevated position sets it apart from the rest of the group and adds narrative variety.

The hen seems to walk or remain on an inclined board. Its legs firmly support it, while the neck angles to the left. This action suggests the birds’ ability to occupy different levels in the coop.

The wooden board crosses the left side diagonally. Its browns, yellows, and whites contrast with the shadows around it. The line guides the gaze from the elevated bird toward the center.

Below the board several light and grayish shapes appear that could correspond to other hens, stones, sacks, or coop elements. The accumulation of objects reinforces the functional, cluttered feel of the space.

In the upper central area another dark figure near a raised area is distinguished. Its silhouette could correspond to a perched bird on a surface or to a coop element. This small detail expands the scene vertically.

The background is dominated by warm tones: ochres, oranges, browns, pinks, and creams. This luminosity seems to come from an opening or an exterior area bathed in sunlight. The birds there acquire softer, more atmospheric contours.

The warm light of the background contrasts with the deep shadows in the foreground and on the right. This opposition creates a pronounced spatial sense. The viewer seems to observe the coop from a sheltered area toward a brighter courtyard.

In the upper center, several hens appear surrounded by this clarity. Their bodies are distinguished by whites, blacks, browns, and small red crests. The light seems to envelop them and soften their boundaries.

One of these birds has a white body with a dark tail. Another appears completely brown, while a third combines grays and reddish tones. The diversity of plumages reinforces the richness and naturalness of the whole.

In the upper right is a dark silhouette elevated against the orange background. It could be a bird located farther away or atop some coop element. Its violet-blue color stands out against the clarity.

The large vertical mass on the right occupies a substantial portion. Its blacks, browns, and grays could correspond to a log, a door, a wall, or a dark part of the building. Its presence functions as a powerful lateral frame.

This dark zone increases the contrast and directs the gaze toward the illuminated birds in the center. It also provides a sense of shelter, as if part of the coop were under cover or beside a rural building.

Between the shadow and the warm background appear transitions of browns, violets, and grays. These intermediate areas prevent a harsh division and help integrate all elements. The birds seem to move freely between light and shade.

The composition lacks a single absolute protagonist. Although some birds stand out by size or position, the true theme is the collective. The life of the coop is expressed through accumulation, movement, and diversity.

Each hen seems to develop a small distinct action: walking, pecking, watching, stepping onto a board, or staying still. This multiplicity turns the scene into a choral narrative. The viewer can walk through it slowly and discover new details.

The absence of human figures does not eliminate the sense of care. The wooden structure, the defined space, and the grouping of birds suggest a coop connected to a house or farm. Human presence is felt indirectly through the organization of the space.

The scene conveys numerous imaginary sounds: clucking, wing movement, feet on the earth, and the brush of straw. This sensory dimension adds vitality and lets the viewer feel the bustling barnyard atmosphere.

The color range blends earth tones with small luminous accents. Browns, blacks, and grays dominate the bodies and shadows; whites and creams illuminate certain plumages; and reds and pinks highlight the crests.

The yellows and oranges in the background bring warmth and situate the scene in a bright day. Blues and violets appear discreetly within the shadows, enriching depth. The overall composition maintains a sober, natural harmony.

The composition is organized through a sequence of diagonals. The left-hand board, the birds’ postures, and the terrain changes guide the eye toward the center. The large dark vertical on the right provides stability.

The contrast between light and dark birds creates a very appealing visual rhythm. The white hens act as light points within the group, while the black ones add weight. The browns serve as a transition between the two extremes.

The scene can be interpreted as a celebration of rural life and its daily activities. The birds are part of a productive environment, but they also possess individual presence and character. The work turns a simple motif into a rich and expressive image.

The coop represents a small universe organized by its own rhythms. The birds move, feed, and occupy different spaces without a central action. This everyday reality conveys authenticity and closeness.

An interesting dialogue between freedom and protection can also be perceived. The hens seem to move freely, although the space is bounded by structures and shadows. The coop functions as a shared refuge.

The abundance of birds can be associated with prosperity and fertility. The numerous group conveys fullness and activity. In contrast to the silence of other rural landscapes, this scene is full of energy.

Overall, this precious painting offers a lively, warm, and deeply authentic vision of a coop populated by numerous hens and roosters with white, black, brown, and gray plumage. The birds grouped in the foreground, the figure perched on a board, the animals illuminated in the background, and the deep shadows of the side structure create a scene full of movement and narrative richness. The work celebrates the simplicity of rural life, the diversity of animals, and the bustling charm of a typical farm day.