The artwork entitled “A rooster,” created by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso in 1938, is an animal painting that utilizes a combination of charcoal, oil, and cardboard as its medium. Measuring 144 x 118 cm, it is influenced by the Naïve Art movement, often associated with Primitivism, which typically represents a simplistic and unrefined approach to subject matter.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a boldly stylized depiction of a rooster. Picasso’s use of vibrant colors and abstract shapes coheres into the recognizably proud stance and the commanding presence of the creature. The rooster is illustrated with a variety of patterns and hues that suggest feathers, with the blues, greens, and reds particularly striking against the more neutral cardboard background. There is an energy and dynamism evident in the portrayal of the rooster, characteristic of Picasso’s innovative and expressive style. The primal and elemental quality of the rooster resonates with the Primitivism art movement’s rejection of the refined techniques that dominate traditional Western art.