The artwork titled “Burly Cobb Hen Coop and Barn” was created by the esteemed artist Edward Hopper in the year 1930. As a notable work within the New Realism art movement, this piece is characterized by its landscape genre and currently resides within a private collection.
The artwork depicts a serene and quiet rural scene where the passage of time seems to slow. In the foreground, a large shadowy hen coop with a pitched roof dominates the lower left quadrant of the canvas, its dark form contrasting sharply against the lighter surroundings. Adjacent to it, merging almost seamlessly with the golden-brown fields, stands a two-story barn with a traditional gambrel roof. This architectural structure, combined with the hen coop, anchors the composition and speaks to the agrarian lifestyle of the era.
The middle ground is occupied by a tapestry of fields, inviting the viewer’s eye to wander across the soft undulations of the landscape. A dirt road meanders through, providing a visual pathway that draws one into the scene, leading toward a solitary tree standing sentinel. The earthy tones range from warm hues to dark patches, suggesting variations in vegetation and the play of sunlight across the terrain.
In the distance, a hill rises gently, topped by a structure that is too far to discern clearly, but which provides a sense of human presence in the expanse. The skies above are muted, with a suggestion of lighter sky near the horizon indicating a possible time of day nearing sunset or late afternoon.
Overall, the artwork provides a snapshot of rural American life, with a focus on simplicity and stillness that is indicative of Hopper’s oeuvre. There is a palpable sense of solitude and tranquility that resonates from the canvas, inviting contemplation on the beauty and quietness of the bucolic setting.
