Papegaai zittend op een tafel c. 1904 - 1906

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof rendered this sketch, “Papegaai zittend op een tafel”, with a focus on the intimate relationship between humans and animals. Dijsselhof was a prominent figure in the Dutch Art Nouveau movement during a period of shifting social values, where artists began to explore the symbolism of nature and the decorative arts. The composition, which features a parrot and an ambiguous figure at a table, invites reflection on issues of domesticity, companionship, and the exoticization of wildlife. Parrots, often associated with mimicry and display, become metaphors for communication and social interaction. Dijsselhof challenges the traditional norms of portraiture, blurring the lines between human and animal subjects. With its delicate lines, the drawing encourages a deeper consideration of our connections with the natural world.