Fyt, Jan – Riña de gallos Part 4 Prado Museum

The composition presents a scene of domestic fowl engaged in what appears to be a ritualized confrontation. A central rooster, displaying prominent white plumage and a crest of golden feathers, dominates the visual field with its aggressive posture; it is actively facing another rooster, whose own comb and wattle are rendered in shades of red and gold. The other birds – hens and younger roosters – are arranged around them, some observing the interaction, others seemingly attempting to avoid involvement.
The artist has employed a restricted palette, primarily utilizing earth tones – browns, ochres, and blacks – which contribute to a sense of subdued drama and emphasize the textures of feathers and rough surfaces. Light falls unevenly across the scene, highlighting the central figures while leaving much of the background in shadow. This selective illumination draws attention to the intensity of the interaction between the roosters.
The setting appears to be an enclosed space, possibly a courtyard or stable, suggested by the brick wall visible on the left and what seems to be a draped fabric on the right. Scattered straw and debris litter the ground, adding to the impression of a functional, rather than decorative, environment.
Beyond the immediate depiction of fowl behavior, the painting evokes themes of masculinity, competition, and hierarchy. The confrontation between the roosters can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of power struggles within a social structure. The hens’ passive presence underscores the dominance asserted by the males. Furthermore, the scenes naturalism – the detailed rendering of feathers, the realistic portrayal of animal behavior – suggests an interest in observing and documenting the intricacies of everyday life, albeit through a lens that highlights primal instincts and displays of dominance. The overall effect is one of restrained energy and quiet observation, inviting contemplation on the dynamics of nature and human parallels.