Skitser af svaner m.m. 1881

This is a sketch of swans made by Niels Larsen Stevns, found in his sketchbook at the SMK. The swan, a symbol of grace and purity, stretches its neck in a pose reminiscent of classical depictions of Leda and the Swan, a motif laden with themes of transformation, sexuality, and divine intervention. We can see the echo of this myth across time and space. Consider the swan's appearance in Wagner's Lohengrin, where it becomes a symbol of the divine and unattainable, or in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, where it embodies tragic transformation. The image of the swan, however, is not fixed. Its meaning shifts with each retelling, each brushstroke. As a symbol, it speaks to the profound and often subconscious ways in which we grapple with themes of beauty, desire, and the delicate balance between the mortal and the divine. The swan's enduring presence is a testament to its power to stir deep emotions and connect us to the mythic past.