Plate VI, Eight Parrot Dancers in a Circle, Their Parrots in Flight, from Ballet of Bears with Parrots, Ballet by Jean Baptiste Balbi for "La Finta Pazza" c. 17th century

Curator: This is Valerio Spada's "Plate VI, Eight Parrot Dancers in a Circle, Their Parrots in Flight, from Ballet of Bears with Parrots, Ballet by Jean Baptiste Balbi for 'La Finta Pazza.'" Editor: It’s got such a playful, almost chaotic energy. The dancers and the parrots mirroring each other, all caught in this whimsical dance. Curator: The circle, a potent symbol. It evokes ritual, community, and the cyclical nature of life. Notice how the parrots themselves become extensions of the dancers' movements. Editor: Absolutely. And that stark contrast, the etched lines against the empty space, it creates a kind of dreamlike quality. Are they really there, these parrot people? Curator: These images were created for illustrated libretti, so these are records of performances combining elaborate stage design, music, and dance. A very synesthetic experience. Editor: It’s fascinating to think of this static image capturing such a dynamic moment in time, a fleeting performance now preserved in these lines. Curator: Indeed, it speaks to the enduring power of symbols to transcend time, even in ephemeral forms like ballet. Editor: Makes you wonder about the music, the costumes, the whole sensory overload of that original performance. This little etching is just a keyhole view into a lost world.