Komt nu vryers en ghy vrijsters, / Koopt geen vincken ofte lijsters [(...)] 1711 - 1723

Curator: This fascinating little print, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, comes to us from somewhere between 1711 and 1723. It's attributed to Jacobus Conynenberg. The inscription reads: "Komt nu vryers en ghy vrijsters, / Koopt geen vincken ofte lijsters..." and it goes on like that, advertising what? A pet bird that, presumably, will improve your love life, or at least keep you amused? Editor: My goodness, it has a slightly naive, unsettling quality to it, like a fairy tale gone a bit wrong. It’s deceptively simple—the tones are muted, the lines sharp but maybe a little uneven, but that actually gives it so much…charm is probably not the right word, perhaps it’s something darker, something slyer? It feels deeply rooted in something old. Curator: Indeed. The fact that it’s a woodcut lends it that archaic flavor. The limited palette is intentional—it speaks to the relative accessibility of printmaking at the time. And look at how the composition reinforces the idea: this bold bird taking center stage perched on a stump. Everything radiates from him—quite a self-important creature! Editor: The bird is undeniably central, almost like a heraldic animal, but more approachable, domestic even. The little sprig of flowers adds this really compelling layer. It feels like the coming of spring, of youthful passions. It is, after all, explicitly about courtship. But that text is also integral... is the bird itself a metaphor? A stand-in for love perhaps? Curator: I love how you're drawn to that symbolic connection! Birds, since forever, have held potent meaning, haven’t they? Liberty, the soul… But here? Maybe it’s a reminder to choose wisely. Or perhaps a light jab at the elaborate rituals surrounding love and courtship? Editor: Yes, definitely the rituals... Or maybe, perhaps more darkly, it is a message of social expectations about how and why love should blossom at all. The message itself, alongside the awkward pose of the bird, the fact it is locked inside of the frame itself, is more powerful to me than all the colours! Curator: Well, this curious piece certainly offers fertile ground for reflection! Its slightly off-kilter charm makes me wonder what this peculiar parrot means and the kind of person who invested in it to better their courtship ritual. Editor: Absolutely. It is a fantastic image in itself and the symbolism leaves us with lingering echoes.