1938 Le coq 2 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The drawing presents a rooster in profile, rendered with a distinctive expressive style. The artist employed colored pencils, evident in the layered hues that define the birds form and texture. A palette dominated by blues, greens, yellows, and grays contributes to an overall muted, somewhat melancholic atmosphere.
Here we see a deliberate distortion of anatomical proportions. The rooster’s legs are elongated and angular, while its comb appears oversized and aggressively pointed. The beak is dramatically open, suggesting either a crow or a display of aggression. These exaggerations move beyond mere representation; they imbue the subject with an emotional intensity that transcends naturalism.
The artists handling of line is equally significant. Bold outlines delineate the rooster’s form, while shorter, more frantic strokes suggest feathers and texture. The lines are not consistently clean or precise, contributing to a sense of urgency and dynamism. This technique lends a raw, almost sketch-like quality to the work, as if capturing a fleeting moment or an immediate emotional response.
The background is minimal – a plain, light beige surface that allows the rooster to dominate the composition. The lack of contextual detail focuses attention entirely on the animal itself, amplifying its symbolic weight.
Subtexts within this drawing are open to interpretation. The rooster has long been associated with masculinity, virility, and national identity (particularly in French culture). However, the unsettling distortion and agitated posture suggest a more complex reading. It could be interpreted as an exploration of vulnerability beneath a facade of strength, or perhaps a commentary on the anxieties and tensions prevalent during the period in which it was created. The open beak might signify not just a call but also a cry – a lament or a warning. Ultimately, the drawing’s power lies in its ambiguity; it invites viewers to project their own meanings onto this striking depiction of a seemingly simple creature.