Vijver met twee zwanen 1892 - 1893

Charles-Marie Dulac created this ethereal print of two swans gliding on a pond, rendered with delicate lines and a muted palette. The swan, an ancient symbol of grace and purity, has been revered across cultures. We see the swan in ancient Greek myths, linked to Aphrodite, goddess of love, often depicted riding or accompanied by swans. This motif resurfaces in Renaissance paintings, where the swan retains its association with beauty, love, and elegance, often seen in allegorical scenes. But the swan takes on darker tones as well. In some tellings, Zeus transformed into a swan to seduce Leda, a story that artists repeatedly explored to express primal desire. In the collective subconscious, the swan evokes a complex interplay of purity and desire. Here, Dulac's swans resonate with this deep-seated dichotomy, engaging us on a profound emotional level. The image reminds us how symbols progress in a non-linear, cyclical fashion and how this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.