De papegaai en het muisje 1792

Reinier Vinkeles created this engraving, "The Parrot and the Little Mouse," around the late 18th century in the Netherlands. The image depicts a child reaching towards a caged parrot, while a mouse looks on from above. At this time, the Dutch Republic was a major center for trade and its citizens enjoyed relative wealth and freedom. But this came at the price of social inequity and political tensions. Images of domestic life were used to uphold a rigid social order and gender roles, but the presence of caged animals suggests a fascination with, or perhaps anxiety about, the natural world. The birdcage also reflects a history of colonial expansion. The parrot, as an exotic creature, would have been a symbol of status. But it's also a prisoner of its own desirability. Historians often consult period publications, like emblem books and natural histories, for an insight into the cultural values and social structure of the time. Approaching art with attention to the world in which it was made helps us understand its complexities.