Pablo Picasso, The hen, 1950

Pablo Picasso’s 1950 artwork The Hen is a charming and evocative representation of one of his recurring motifs—animals, depicted with a blend of simplicity, symbolism, and expressive line work. Created during a prolific post-war period in Picasso’s life, The Hen exemplifies his late graphic style, in which he used bold contours, stylized forms, and a spontaneous energy to breathe life into everyday subjects.

In The Hen, the bird is rendered with minimal yet striking lines, emphasizing its shape, posture, and character with an almost calligraphic elegance. The composition reflects Picasso’s ability to strip away unnecessary detail while retaining a sense of movement, vitality, and personality. The hen, a humble and domestic creature, becomes a subject of artistic exploration—imbued with a quirky presence that feels both humorous and dignified.

Picasso had long been fascinated by animals, particularly those found in the rural environments of Southern France and Spain, where he often spent time. Chickens and roosters featured in various media throughout his career—paintings, ceramics, drawings, and sculptures—each reflecting different moods and interpretations, from playful to symbolic.

Though deceptively simple, The Hen carries multiple layers of meaning. In a post-war context, the hen might symbolize renewal, fertility, and the comforting rhythm of everyday life—a quiet contrast to the turbulence of previous decades. It also demonstrates Picasso’s continued interest in primitive and folk art forms, where stylization and symbolism take precedence over realism.

This work highlights Picasso’s mastery of expressive reduction, showing how even the most ordinary subject can become iconic through his distinctive visual language. The Hen remains a testament to Picasso’s genius in transforming simple forms into powerful artistic statements, revealing beauty and significance in the familiar and the everyday.