The Jack of Parrots

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows a shirtless man riding a giant playing card—the Jack of Hearts—through a grassy field. He holds a bow and a sunburst shield, and a parrot perches on his shoulder. The card’s corners curl up like a horse’s mane, and the man’s legs dangle over the edge. The parrot’s placement feels oddly calm next to the chaotic scene. This kind of playful mix of cards and mythic figures was a trick Renaissance artists used to tell stories. Check out how this was made using engraving.