Papegaai c. 1890

Editor: This is "Papegaai," or "Parrot," by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, around 1890. It’s an ink drawing at the Rijksmuseum. It feels like a very quick sketch, capturing the bird's personality with just a few strokes. What's your take on it? Curator: This sketch speaks volumes about the relationship between humans and the natural world in the late 19th century. Consider the social status often associated with exotic pets, especially parrots. Owning such a creature signaled wealth, worldliness, and engagement with colonial trade routes. It's not just a study of a bird, but a potential symbol of imperial power and the domestication of the "exotic" within European society. Do you notice how the artist presents the parrot? Editor: Well, it seems kind of simple and almost unfinished. Like a doodle in the margins. I didn't immediately think of colonialism. Curator: Exactly, the unfinished quality can be interpreted in a few ways. Was the artist simply documenting the world around him? Or did the sketch challenge academic styles? It prompts us to think about what constituted “art” during that time, who had the authority to define it, and how new visual languages were emerging. It questions the role of the artist. The drawing asks: who is he drawing for and what is his goal? Editor: That's a completely different perspective than I had. I was so focused on the image itself, rather than the broader context. Curator: Precisely. Analyzing art through history allows us to see beyond the surface and understand its deeper cultural significance. We start asking *why* this, *why* now. Editor: I see what you mean! I will look at art through the lenses of institutions and cultural norms now. Curator: I am happy I offered another way to see art!