Vrouw in venster voert een papegaai die wordt vastgehouden door een man 1771

Philippe Louis Parizeau created this print, *Woman in Window Feeding a Parrot Held by a Man*, sometime in the late 18th century. During this period, the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason coexisted with entrenched social hierarchies and gender roles. This image presents a seemingly simple domestic scene that can be read as a commentary on the era’s gender dynamics. We see a woman at a window, feeding a parrot that’s held by a man. Her act of nurturing is mediated through the man’s possession, complicating her autonomy. Parrots, often seen as symbols of mimicry, might suggest the limited freedom afforded to women, who were expected to parrot societal expectations. The woman's gentle interaction with the parrot contrasts sharply with the man's shadowy presence behind her, which evokes a sense of constraint. The piece invites us to consider the subtle power dynamics that shaped women's lives. It serves as a poignant reflection on the negotiation of freedom and constraint in the domestic sphere.