The artwork “Girls in henhouse” by Koloman Moser, completed in 1897 in Austria, exemplifies the realistic depiction of a genre scene. Crafted using indian ink on paper, the piece is a modestly sized genre painting, with dimensions of 21.3 x 15.1 cm. As an artifact of the Realism art movement, it endeavors to represent everyday life with authenticity and detailed observation.
The artwork portrays an intimate and serene moment within a henhouse. At the center of the composition is a young girl, her face alight with concentration and perhaps a hint of delight. She is crouched next to a wooden coop that houses the hens, engaging with the inhabitants through the bars. Her posture and the gentle manner in which her hand reaches towards the coop convey a sense of tenderness and familiarity with the task at hand.
In the foreground, two chickens are depicted with considerable detail, indicating Moser’s attentive study of the animals and their environment. The chickens are rendered with varied patterns in their plumage, suggesting different breeds or individual characteristics. Scattered on the floor are what appear to be grains or feed, which the nearest chicken busily pecks at, a routine aspect of their existence.
The use of light and shadow in the artwork, achieved through the skilled application of indian ink, creates depth and adds a naturalistic quality to the scene. The distribution of light seems to emerge from an unseen source, possibly a window or an opening to the outside, illuminating parts of the henhouse, the girl’s face, and the bodies of the chickens.
Overall, the artwork by Moser is a testament to the Realism movement’s dedication to portraying life without idealization, capturing a truthful slice of rural life and the simple, yet profound interactions between humans and their domesticated companions.
