École française (XX) - Le poulailler

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to the French school, representing 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 painting quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 54x62x7 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 38x46 cm.
· Oil on board signed by the artist at bottom right.
· The piece is in good preservation condition.
· The work is sold with a beautiful 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 via Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a lively coop scene featuring a large group of hens and roosters gathered in a rural space of earth, wood and shade. The birds occupy virtually 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 diversity of whites, blacks, browns, grays and reddish plumages adds visual richness, while the warm luminosity of the background contrasts with the deep shadow on the right and creates a rustic, lively and deeply pastoral atmosphere.

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

The nearest birds appear seen from different positions. Some show their backs and tails, while others turn their heads to the 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. Its broad body is formed by blacks, browns and bluish tones, with small reddish reflections. The silhouette blends with the ground shadows but remains sufficiently clear to differentiate it.

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

The combs and wattles are very important chromatic details. Their reds and pinks interrupt the earthy range and draw the eye to the heads. The repetition of these small warm points helps guide the eye across the whole group.

In the lower left zone a light-colored hen leans toward the ground. Its posture suggests it is pecking or searching for food. The neck descends and the head approaches the earth, conveying a natural, everyday action.

Next to it appear brown and dark shapes corresponding to other birds partially hidden. This overlapping reinforces the sense of abundance and allows imagining an even larger group beyond the image limits.

In the central lower area there is a brown-gray plumage hen with a light neck. Its body is diagonally oriented and helps connect the foreground with the farther birds. The creamy tones of its feathers receive soft light.

On the right, another dark bird occupies a position near the edge. Its silhouette is partly immersed in the shadow created by the large vertical mass. Brown and reddish reflections reveal the volume of its body.

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

In some sectors light and yellowish stripes appear that could correspond to straw or sunlit areas. These lines add movement and visually separate the different groups. The floor is not a neutral background but an essential part of the rural environment.

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

In the center of the composition rises a dark plumage bird with light and reddish areas. Its upright stance 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 move toward the viewer or stand above the group. Its head is raised while the body is surrounded by other birds. The red comb and dark neck stand out against the warm background.

Beside it appears another light hen, with white and gray plumage. The combination between the two creates a contrast of light and shadow. Their slightly different postures reinforce the impression of movement.

Farther to the right there is a brown hen with an elongated silhouette. Its reddish head rises and seems to be oriented toward the upper part. This arrangement introduces a diagonal and animates the mid plane.

Behind these birds appear other smaller and more diffused shapes. Some show white plumage, others brown and dark. The size reduction helps establish depth and suggests the coop continues beyond the image.

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

The hen seems to walk or stand on a tilted plank. Its legs are firmly planted, while the neck is directed to the left. This action suggests the ability of the birds to occupy different levels of 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 eye from the elevated bird toward the center.

Under the plank several light and grayish shapes appear that could correspond to other hens, stones, sacks or coop elements. The accumulation of objects reinforces the functional and somewhat disorderly appearance of the space.

In the upper central area there is another dark figure near a raised area. Its silhouette could correspond to a bird perched on a surface or to an element of the coop. This small detail broadens 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 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 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 edges.

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

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 building. Its presence serves as a powerful lateral frame.

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

Between the shadow and the warm background appear transitions of browns, violets 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 whole. The collective life of the coop is expressed through accumulation, movement and diversity.

Each hen seems to develop a small distinct action: walking, pecking, watching, climbing a plank or remaining still. This multiplicity makes the scene a choral narrative. The viewer can explore it slowly and discover new details.

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

The scene conveys numerous imagined sounds: clucks, wing movement, feet on the ground and the brushing of straw. This sensory dimension adds vitality and allows feeling the bustling farmyard atmosphere.

The color range combines earthy 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 of the background add warmth and situate the scene in a bright day. Blues and violets appear discreetly within the shadows, enriching depth. The whole maintains a sober and natural harmony.

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

The contrast between light and dark birds creates a highly attractive visual rhythm. The white hens act as light points within the group, while the blacks add weight. The browns serve as a transition between both ends.

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 everydayness conveys authenticity and closeness.

An interesting dialogue between freedom and protection can also be observed. The hens seem to move freely, although the space is delimited 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 front of the silence of other rural landscapes, this scene is full of energy.

Overall, this precious painting offers a vivid, warm and deeply authentic view of a coop populated by numerous hens and roosters with plumages of white, black, brown and grayish tones. The birds gathered in the foreground, the bird perched on a plank, the illuminated animals in the background, and the deep shadows of the lateral 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.