Liberty

Apologies for taking quite so long to get around to this, but here goes.

The parts of this that appealed to me at first glance were the color scheme and the texture. It's a very cohesive image, and you've done a good job with producing the effect of light from the flames and radiating from the bird while keeping it somewhat understated. The overall appearance is dark, which is an interesting choice for the subject matter--it puts a heavier emphasis on the depth of what might have been overcome to achieve this freedom.

One thing I like upon closer inspection is the feeling of motion. This is a very dynamic design; its so clearly right in the moment of breaking free that I can almost hear the cage breaking when I look at it. Additionally, almost all of the motion is directed upward, which is consistent with the concept. There is a tendency for the mind to associate "up" with "good," thus the bird seems to be moving toward something better. The cage almost blends into the background, but is not lost thanks to the motion. The eyes follow the line backward to see what this bird has left behind and find the makings of a story.

That, I think, is what makes this image so effective. I look at it and I see the concept illustrated, but illustrated in a somewhat mysterious way. The darkness of it is intriguing and the setting is fantastical. The bird itself is of an unnatural sort, with flames sprouting from its wings--possibly evoking something demonic. Is it even a good thing that this creature escaped? One wonders, and yet cannot help but appreciate that this picture feels victorious.

The only change I might suggest would be to remove the word itself from its place in the background. The image itself is plenty to get the concept across, and the presence of text only distracts from what is already there.