Pecking Order - 100x150cm oil on canvas POA

“Pecking Order” is full of quiet humour and social commentary, conveyed through a simple but telling scene.

We see a woman standing casually in front of an ice cream shop, under a sunny yellow awning labelled ICE CREAM. She is casually dressed in a sleeveless striped vest top and relaxed jeans, holding her ice cream cone close to her face as she takes a thorough lick. Her body language is laid back, with one hand in her pocket and her confident stance at ease.

The focal point that gives the painting its ironic title is the small dog sitting at her feet. The dog gazes upward, eyes locked on the ice cream with a mixture of hope and longing, practically radiating patience and desire. The exaggerated shadow behind the woman adds a dramatic weight to the otherwise simple scene, possibly symbolising the disproportionate authority or dominance she holds in this moment.

The title of this painting, “Pecking Order,” invites a deeper reading. While it’s a term often associated with hierarchy and dominance - especially in social or animal groups - here it’s playfully re contextualised. The woman, by virtue of holding the coveted treat, is clearly atop the pecking order. The dog, despite its devotion and expectation, remains at the bottom, waiting silently for a possible reward that may or may not come.

Together, the piece echoes themes of power dynamics, patience, and desire - wrapped in the familiar, almost mundane setting of an ice cream shop. The dog’s hopeful gaze serves as both a humorous and touching reflection of the small, often unspoken hierarchies in everyday life.

If you are interested in this painting email hello@deniseliebermann.com