The artwork titled “Two Hanging Pheasants” is a creation of the French artist Gustave Caillebotte, completed in 1882. Executed in the medium of oil on canvas, it is characteristic of the Impressionist movement. The dimensions of the painting are 73 by 54 centimeters. As a still life, it depicts the subtleties of everyday life in a visual form. Currently, the painting is part of a private collection, safeguarded from public exhibition but preserved as an example of Caillebotte’s dedication to capturing the beauty in the mundane.
“Two Hanging Pheasants” showcases a pair of game birds suspended by their feet from hooks, evidently portrayed post-hunt. The birds are depicted with meticulous attention to the texture and variegated colors of their feathers, which range from rich browns to speckled beige and black tones, with a hint of iridescence. They hang against a nondescript, hazy background that suggests diffused natural light common in Impressionist works. A basket can be faintly discerned to the right, its presence merely suggestive rather than detailed, further focusing the viewer’s attention on the pheasants themselves. The brushwork is loose and visible, a hallmark of the Impressionist style, which aims to capture the fleeting effects of light rather than create a highly realistic depiction. The table on which they hang provides a strong horizontal structure, giving the composition balance and a sense of groundedness amidst the otherwise ethereal backdrop.
