The Parrot of Carolina 1731 - 1743

Mark Catesby captured the vibrant Carolina Parrot here in this engraving on paper. Perched amongst bald cypress foliage and seeds, this bird, now extinct, is a potent symbol. Throughout history, parrots have been associated with mimicry, exoticism, and even divine knowledge. The parrot in ancient Roman art was a symbol of wealth and luxury, a far cry from its representation in indigenous cultures of South America, where it often embodies a link between the earthly and spiritual realms. Consider the parrot's bright plumage; it is a visual echo of the vibrant colors found in religious iconography. The image carries a melancholic undercurrent, with the extinct parrot's presence serving as a reminder of lost worlds. This mirrors the cyclical nature of cultural symbols, how they evolve, disappear, and resurface, carrying echoes of past meanings into the present. The parrot, once a symbol of life's exuberance, is now a symbol of its ephemerality.