Vrouw met papegaai c. 1740

Domenico Tessara created this print, "Woman with Parrot," using etching techniques. The composition is vertically oriented, featuring a woman and a parrot set against a densely lined background. The woman is depicted with a soft, almost melancholic expression, her gaze directed slightly off to the side. The lines define the forms, creating a sense of depth and texture that invites a closer look at the semiotic relationship between the woman and the parrot. The parrot, rendered with dense and varied lines, adds textural contrast to the smoothness of the woman’s skin. The woman's arm is extended, and the parrot is resting on it; it acts as a symbolic bridge between nature and culture. The print challenges traditional notions of beauty and power, particularly in how it represents the relationship between humans and animals. The woman's gentle expression, juxtaposed with the parrot’s wildness, engages with broader philosophical concerns about our place in the natural world, offering layers of meaning to consider.