best friend: Tom Eckersley

Friday, June 3, 2011

One of the many things I have learned while doing research for Animalarium

is that when it comes to art and design, not all animals are created equal.

Some creatures have been much more frequently portrayed than others,

either because of their familiarity, beauty, symbolism or graphic qualities.

Unsurprisingly, roosters are amongst the winners.

These commonplace birds are endowed with bold looks,

colorful feathers, a great silhouette and rich symbolism.

Lionel Kalish illustration, 1950s, thanks to Cocotazo

The animals' popularity tends to change with the times and styles.

For example, during the Art Nouveau period one can find many

elegant images of peacocks, hounds and dragonflies, while Art Deco

artists often favored the strong shapes of big cats, elephants and eagles.

Rooster images are easily found in different epochs and places,

but they seem to be a strikingly often recurring subject in

mid-century modernism. I have already dedicated a post to this subject

and era, but have since found lots more so here we go again...

Yusaku Kamekura, 1956–7, thanks to 50 Watts

Wills cover for Gebrauchsgraphik 1–1956, thanks to BustBright

Late 50s–early 60s rooster whistle by Arabia Finland,

Abraham Palatnik acrylic sculpture, ca. 1960

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