Cygne, heron 

Here is a drawing of a swan and a heron by Karl Bodmer. Observe the swan, gliding serenely on the water’s surface, a vision of purity, often associated with love and grace. Now consider the heron, standing solitary on the shore, its slender form embodying watchfulness and patience. These birds, though different, each carry profound symbolic weight, deeply rooted in our cultural memory. The swan, a symbol of divine beauty, finds its echoes in the myth of Leda and the Swan, where it embodies the god Zeus. Contrast this with the heron, whose image appears in Egyptian hieroglyphs, linked to the god Bennu, a symbol of rebirth and renewal. See how the graceful neck of the swan contrasts with the sharp beak of the heron, evoking different emotional responses. The swan might stir feelings of tranquility, while the heron, a sense of quiet anticipation. These archetypes persist, evolving through time, and resurfacing in art and culture, bearing witness to the enduring power of symbols.