Woman and Poultry in Rural Landscape. Edgar Barclay (1842-1913). 1904. Oil on canvas, 23 ¼ x 36 ½ inches (59 X 92 cm). Click on image to enlarge it.

In this painting an Italian peasant woman is seen walking downhill and away from a flock of chickens pecking grain from the ground. The woman’s red shawl adds a focal point of colour that draws the eye into the composition. The work is lit from the left and the diagonal created as the ground slopes to the right adds interest to the work. A large clump of shrubs and trees to the right adds balance to the composition. A row of low purple mountains can be seen in the background. — Dennis T. Lanigan


Last modified 20 December 2022