The Brood and the Naive Child I by Iyanuoluwa Babalola

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Dimensions: 36 x 24 in

Year: 2026

Price: $800.00 USD

Status: available

The Brood and the Naive Child I is inspired by a vivid childhood memory. As a young boy, I was fascinated by a mother hen and her fluffy chicks. Out of pure curiosity and naivety, I stretched out my leg, believing I could playfully meddle with them, unaware of how fiercely a hen protects her brood. African hens instinctively guard their chicks, spreading their wings, clucking, hissing, and placing themselves between their young and any perceived threat. What seemed like innocent play to me was, to her, a moment of danger. This painting captures the moment before consequence—a fleeting encounter where childhood innocence meets maternal instinct, reminding us that curiosity often marks the beginning of life's earliest lessons.