De papegaai / Le perroquet 1833 - 1911

This lithograph titled ‘The Parrot’, was made by Brepols and Dierckx zoon. It is a comic strip, presented in both Dutch and French, which tells the story of a parrot and its journey through different social settings. Made in Belgium, this artwork offers insights into the cultural and linguistic landscape of the time. The presence of both Dutch and French text highlights the country's bilingual character and the negotiation of cultural identities. The narrative unfolds through a series of vignettes which depict everyday life, social interactions, and moral lessons. The parrot itself might serve as a symbol, reflecting social commentary or cultural values. Studying prints such as this, allows us to investigate the social conditions that shape artistic production and reception. Further research into the publishing house of Brepols and Dierckx, along with the cultural context of 19th-century Belgium, would reveal more about the meaning of this work as contingent on its social and institutional context.