The Scolding Woman and the Cackling Hen
Original title: The Scolding Woman and the Cackling Hen
kurzbeschreibung
Two women in a rustic interior are the focus of this etching by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, made around 1568. The round print measures about 18 centimetres in diameter, placing it among the artist's late works.
Description
On the left, a woman holding an implement turns to address her companion, who sits on a chair with arms crossed. Both wear simple country clothing. A wooden-panelled window and a few hooks structure the back wall, and beside the seated woman a rooster and a hen are visible. A circular border with Dutch and French inscriptions frames the motif. The image remains monochrome and relies on clear contours.
Context
The print dates from around 1568, when Bruegel turned increasingly to printmaking in his final creative phase. Hieronymus Cock, one of Antwerp's most prominent print publishers, acted as publisher. The subject addresses marriage and gender relations, a theme frequently encountered in sixteenth-century Netherlandish art. The bilingual inscriptions suggest distribution beyond the Dutch-speaking area.
Impact
Clean lines and precise observation of figures and space give the sheet an immediate quality. The encircling text ring frames the action and places it in an instructive light. The postures of the two women—the gesturing standing figure here, the seated one with crossed arms there—generate a tension that feels almost dramatic.
Technique
An 18-centimetre round plate served as the base for the etching. The etching process allowed for uniformly fine lines that captured textures and facial expressions in detail. Printing was done in black and white on paper, as was common for sixteenth-century prints.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)