rooster

24  x 31 cm
Acrylic, conte, pencil & ballpoint pen on paper
 
An adult male chicken is called a “rooster” and an adult female is called a “hen.” Roosters are larger, usually more brightly coloured, and have larger combs on top of their heads compared to hens. Roosters have been on farms, crowing loudly, for about 5000 years! The term rooster did not appear until 1772. Before that, an adult male chicken was called a cock. 
Nobody wants the noise or all the flashy strutting around. Literally a cocky sort of animal. The cockiness indeed is named after the male chicken. Brave or foolhardy, protecting his females and his territory. Willing to stupidly fight to the death, or so we are lead to believe. Set up and spurred on by baying human gamblers. But in reality I am sure that is would not come to that, as there would be room to retreat for the original jungle fowl.
The rooster’s attitude and pride impress and inspire and its image is used in many forms and cultures. The year of the rooster, a national animal symbol of France, a logo of a sporting brand. Not forgetting how it is featured in the weather vane showing us which way the wind blows. Such pride, such dignity, such arrogance. Resplendent colourful feathers and wattles and comb, brighter when flushed with blood. Cold, staring simple eyes, the noise, the pride, and the arrogance leads to nothing. To be the king of a henpecked dirty yard or scrape.