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 different plumages, gathered among planks, earth, and areas of light and shadow. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions with frame: 54x62x7 cm.
· Dimensions without frame: 38x46 cm.
· Oil on board signed by the artist in the lower right hand corner.
· The piece is in good 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 shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging 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 an animated coop scene featuring a large group of hens and roosters gathered in a rural space of earth, wood and shade. The birds occupy almost the entire composition and appear distributed on different planes: some cluster in the foreground, others advance through the center, and several are located in higher or distant areas. The variety of plumages—white, black, brown, gray, and reddish—adds visual richness, while the warm background luminosity contrasts with the deep shadow on the right and creates a bucolic, lively and deeply countryside atmosphere.

The foreground is dominated by an accumulation of birds overlapping one another. 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 there is a hen with very dark plumage. Her broad body is formed by blacks, browns and bluish tones, with small reddish highlights. The silhouette integrates with the shadows on the ground but remains clear enough to differentiate.

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

The crests and wattles constitute very important chromatic details. Their reds and pinks interrupt the earth-toned range and draw the eye toward the heads. The repetition of these small warm points helps guide the viewer through the entire group.

On the lower left side there is a light hen leaning toward the ground. Her posture suggests she is pecking or foraging. The neck descends and the head approaches the earth, conveying a daily and natural action.

Next to her appear brown and dark shapes that correspond to other birds partially hidden. This overlap reinforces the sense of abundance and allows imagining an even larger group continuing beyond the image limits.

In the central lower zone a hen with brown and grayish plumage and a light neck stands out. Her body is oriented diagonally and helps connect the foreground with the birds farther away. The cream tones of her feathers receive a soft light.

To the right, another dark bird occupies a position near the edge. Its silhouette is partially submerged in the shadow created by the large vertical mass. Brown and reddish reflections allow perceiving the volume of her body.

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

In some sectors there are light and yellowish stripes 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 occupies 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 a dark-plumaged bird with light and reddish zones rises. Its upright posture and greater visibility make it one of the main focal points. It could be a rooster or a hen distinguished by its attentive attitude.

This central figure seems to advance toward the viewer or to be positioned 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 combination of the two creates a contrast of light and shadow. Their slightly different postures reinforce the impression of movement.

Further to the right there is a brown hen with an elongated silhouette. Its reddish head rises and appears oriented toward the upper part. This arrangement introduces a diagonal and enlivens the midplane.

Behind these birds there are other smaller, more diffuse shapes. Some show white plumages, others brown and dark. The size reduction helps establish depth and suggests the coop continues into the background.

In the upper left there is a hen perched on a raised wooden structure. Its light body and small reddish areas contrast with the dark background. The elevated position separates it from the rest of the group and adds narrative variety.

The hen seems to walk or stay on a slanted board. Its legs plant firmly, while the neck is directed to the left. This action suggests the birds’ ability to occupy different levels in the coop.

The wooden plank crosses the left side with a clear diagonal. Its browns, yellows and whites contrast with the surrounding shadows. The line guides the gaze from the elevated bird toward the center.

Below the plank there are several light and grayish shapes that could correspond to other hens, stones, bags or kennel elements. The accumulation of objects reinforces the functional, somewhat disordered feel of the space.

In the upper central edge a dark figure near a raised area stands out. Its silhouette could correspond to a bird perched 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 sunlit area. The birds there acquire softer and 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 strong sense of space. The viewer seems to observe the coop from a protected 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 edges.

One of these birds has a white body and a dark tail. Another is entirely 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 a dark silhouette rises against the orange background. It could be a bird located farther away or on top of a coop element. Its blue-violet color stands out against the brightness.

The large vertical mass on the right occupies a significant portion. Its blacks, browns and grays could correspond to a trunk, a door, a wall or a dark part of the construction. Its presence serves as a powerful lateral frame.

This dark zone increases the contrast and directs the eye toward the illuminated birds in the center. It also adds 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 there are transitions of browns, purples and grays. These intermediate zones 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 perform a small distinct action: walking, pecking, watching, climbing a plank, or remaining still. This multiplicity turns the scene into a choral narrative. The viewer can slowly explore it and discover new details.

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

The scene conveys numerous imaginary sounds: clucking, wing movement, feet on the earth and the rustle of straw. This sensorial dimension adds vitality and allows feeling the bustling farmyard atmosphere.

The color range combines 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 add warmth and place the scene on a bright day. Blues and violets appear discretely within the shadows, enriching depth. The whole maintains a sober and natural harmony.

The composition is organized through a sequence of diagonals. The left plank, the birds’ postures and the ground changes guide the gaze toward the center. The large dark vertical on the right provides stability.

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

The scene can be read as a celebration of rural life and its daily activities. The birds are part of a productive environment, yet they also possess an individual, full-bodied presence. 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 everydayness 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 defined by structures and shadows. The coop functions as a shared refuge.

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

Overall, this lovely painting offers a vivid, warm and deeply authentic view of a coop populated by numerous hens and roosters with white, black, brown and gray plumage. The birds clustered in the foreground, the figure perched on a plank, the illuminated animals 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 day on the farm.