Riviergezicht met zwanenjacht bij Huningue 1628 - 1679

This delicate etching depicts a river landscape with a swan hunt near Huningue, its author now lost to us. The prominent motif is that of swans gliding on water, symbols of grace, purity, and often associated with love and fidelity in the Northern European tradition. Interestingly, the hunt introduces a darker element, a disruption of this idyllic scene. Swans, revered in classical mythology as symbols of Apollo and the muses, were believed to possess prophetic abilities. In contrast to their sacred status, the act of hunting them brings forward a primal human instinct, the assertion of control over nature. Consider how the image of the swan has resonated across time, from Leda and the Swan, embodying transformation and divine intervention, to its appearance in fairy tales like The Ugly Duckling, which explores themes of identity and self-acceptance. Through this cultural memory, the swan continually resurfaces. Shifting in meaning, it remains a potent symbol in our collective consciousness.