Chaim Soutine
Born Minsk (Russian Empire, now Belarus), 1893; died Paris, 1943
Dead Fowl
INV-2364
Chaim Soutine
Born Minsk (Russian Empire, now Belarus), 1893; died Paris, 19431926
paintingmodern and contemporary art
Date
1926
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
97.5 × 63.3 cm (38 3/8 × 24 7/8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Joseph Winterbotham Collection
In the mid-1920s, Chaim Soutine produced a group of still-life paintings featuring hanging fowl and freshly butchered sides of meat, subjects represented in European art for centuries. Rather than depict the animals as lifeless and limp, he often portrayed them as tragic figures, as in the painting here. The animated quality of the thick, swirling paint suggests the bird is writhing in its final moments. These visceral still lifes were inspired by Soutine’s study of 17th-century Dutch market scenes, yet were painted after carcasses he arranged in his studio.
This is one of thirty-five works that comprise the Winterbotham Collection. Click here to learn more about the collection.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
Landscape at Cagnes
Chaim Soutine French, born Minsk, Russia (present-day Belarus), 1893–1943
Madeleine (Two Heads) or Tenderness, from the first album of L'Estampe originale
Maurice Denis (French, 1870-1943) published by L'Estampe Originale (French, 1893-1895)
The Voyage of Urien (Le Voyage d'Urien)
Maurice Denis (French, 1870-1943) written by André Gide (French, 1869-1951) published by Librairie de l'Art Indépendent (French, 19th century) printed by Paul Schmidt (French, 19th century) and Edward Ancourt (French, active 1860-1899) book bound by A. Devauchelle (French, 19th century)
