Parrot, Paradise 

This is Erte's 'Parrot, Paradise', which presents us with a striking figure adorned in feathers. Here, the bird isn't just an animal; it's a symbol. Across cultures, birds often represent freedom, the soul, or a connection between heaven and earth. In ancient Egypt, the bird-headed deity Thoth was the god of wisdom and writing. Notice the figure’s theatrical gesture, the way the plumage fans out like wings, and the megaphone chanting 'Bravo!', evoking a sense of performance and spectacle. This recalls the 'Victory' figures of classical antiquity, or the angels bearing trumpets in Renaissance art. The parrot, with its vibrant plumage, is a herald. The call for "Bravo" reflects a deep-seated human desire for recognition and validation, a theme that recurs throughout history. The parrot figure, however, has undergone a metamorphosis, evolving from divine messenger to a symbol of worldly acclaim. This constant reshaping reveals the enduring, cyclical nature of symbols and how they constantly reappear, and take on new meanings in different eras.