Still Life with Plucked and Hanging Chickens Felice Boselli (1650-1732)

The composition presents a cluster of plucked chickens suspended by their feet from a bundle of twine. The birds hang against a dark, indistinct background that lacks detail and contributes to a sense of isolation and starkness. Light falls unevenly upon the subjects, highlighting the texture of the skin and emphasizing the anatomical details of the carcasses.
The artists rendering focuses intently on the physicality of the chickens – their pallid flesh, the remnants of feathers clinging to the surface, and the exposed bone structure visible in places. The close-up perspective eliminates any sense of distance or context; the viewer is confronted directly with the reality of these deceased creatures.
The absence of other objects within the frame concentrates attention solely on the chickens themselves. This deliberate limitation reinforces a feeling of austerity and perhaps even unease. The subject matter, while commonplace in terms of sustenance, is rendered in a manner that avoids any romanticization or idealization. Instead, there’s an emphasis on the raw materiality of lifes end.
The subdued palette – primarily consisting of muted grays, browns, and creams – further contributes to the somber mood. The limited color range prevents distraction from the central subject and enhances the overall sense of realism.
Subtly, the work might be interpreted as a meditation on mortality and the cycle of life and death. The chickens, once living beings, are now presented as objects destined for consumption, prompting reflection on human dependence on animals and the often-uncomfortable realities of food production. The starkness of the presentation could also suggest themes of sacrifice or loss, though these interpretations remain open to individual consideration given the painting’s deliberate ambiguity.