British Expressionism Sporting Painting In Motion: Cocks Fighting C.1965

British Expressionism in Motion: “Cocks Fighting” (c.1965) by B.K. Gallie — After Leon Kossoff
Subject and Medium
A striking mid-20th-century Expressionist oil painting on board, circa 1965, titled Cocks Fighting, by B.K. Gallie of Gloucestershire (labelled verso).
Two roosters clash in a vivid display of energy and colour — an enduring symbol of rivalry, strength, and vitality. Executed in thick impasto on Dalex Board for Oils (England), the surface is sculptural and animated with palette-knife marks and sweeping, confident strokes.
The painting’s emotional immediacy and physicality align closely with the British Expressionist movement and the School of London, recalling the visceral energy of Leon Kossoff and Frank Auerbach.
Composition and Technique
Gallie’s handling of paint is raw and sculptural, treating pigment as a material to carve rather than simply apply. The roosters’ movement and plumage are built from dense, tactile layers that catch and fracture light across the surface.
Form yields to feeling; gesture takes precedence over representation. Every mark conveys tension, motion, and urgency rather than anatomical precision, pushing the composition toward abstraction.
A restrained palette—dominated by greys, ochres, and the sharp reds and yellows of the combs—creates a dramatic visual contrast and amplifies the sense of conflict. The dynamic brushwork mirrors the subject’s ferocity, producing an almost musical rhythm of colour and texture.
Context: Leon Kossoff and the School of London
Leon Kossoff (1926–2019) was a leading figure in post-war British painting and one of the foremost exponents of the School of London. His thickly worked surfaces and emotional depth sought to reconcile perception with lived experience, translating the pulse of human presence into physical paint.
Kossoff’s influence is evident in Gallie’s approach to material and gesture. Like Kossoff, he constructs image and emotion simultaneously, allowing subject and surface to merge into a single, expressive act. Kossoff’s works are held by major museums including Tate, MoMA, and LACMA, and continue to inform generations of expressive painters.
Signature and Label
Unsigned, but labelled verso with the artist’s printed address:
“B.K. Gallie, Honeysuckle Cottage, Uley, Dursley, Glos.”
This label confirms authorship, location, and provenance. The original pre-decimal price (£8 8s) further situates the work in the early to mid-1960s.
Framing
Presented in a contemporary Larson-Juhl gilt moulded frame with museum-quality AR70 protective glass, complementing the painting’s mid-century aesthetic.
Framed dimensions:
58.5 cm (height) × 68 cm (width) × 2.5 cm (depth)
Provenance
Artist’s own label verso (Honeysuckle Cottage, Uley, Gloucestershire)
Painted on Dalex artist board manufactured by Daler Mountboards, Wareham, Dorset
Acquired from a reputable art dealer in the Eastern Shires
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd, specialists in British modernist works
Exhibited at the Lord Hill Museum, in a survey of post-war British Expressionism
Later held in a private Gloucestershire collection
This clear and continuous provenance connects the artist, material origin, regional exhibitions, and subsequent collections—enhancing both authenticity and historical value.
Why This Painting Stands Out
Expressive energy: Every brushstroke resonates with tension and vitality.
Textural richness: The heavy impasto surface captures changing light and shadow.
Art-historical depth: A compelling link to the School of London tradition.
Statement presence: A bold, conversation-worthy centrepiece for any interior or collection.
This work rewards close inspection—visceral, poetic, and entirely in the spirit of post-war British expressionism.
Condition
Good original condition overall. The paint surface is stable, with minor age-appropriate craquelure typical of a 1960s work. Frame shows light, unobtrusive wear and remains structurally sound and display-ready.
Detailed photographs available on request.
Shipping
Worldwide delivery available. Professionally packed and fully insured for safe transport.
Additional Information
For inquiries, provenance details, or to view related works, please contact Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD, specialists in 20th-century British painting.