a new friend. . . eventually

thanks wikimedia commons

This is "The New Playmate," an oil painting dated 1873 by the Swedish artist Julius Kronberg.  I like it because the interactions here are on the wry side of the usual little-girl-in-garden-with-pets genre work.  If you click on the image it should pop up in a bigger version, and then I think you'll see what I'm talking about. That parrot (actually looks to be a cockatoo to me) and the child are in a beady staredown which plays out like this in my head:
Girl:  What.
Bird:  What.
Girl: Whatever.
Bird: Whatevs.
Dog:  OMG what is that

I'm sure they all got along in time.  By the way, what is up with the dishevelment in the garden?  And I want to note that Kronberg had studied in Dusseldorf, in a school of approach that generally chose serene, even colors.  This is vivid, lively, almost humorous in its bright palette, and I would love to know why.  A special project? Or one simply close to his heart?