The Crow and the Pitcher, The Eagle and the Crow 1908

This illustration by Walter Crane, from around the turn of the century, presents two fables, each rich with symbolic weight. Dominating these scenes are the crow and the eagle, birds that transcend mere fauna, evolving into emblems of intellect and overweening pride, respectively. Notice the crow. Here, it is depicted outwitting nature with its ingenuity. We see the crow in the upper panel dropping pebbles into a pitcher to raise the water level. Contrast this with the lower panel where the crow attempts to lift a ram, only to be ensnared – a lesson in humility. The image of a bird carrying off an animal is ancient. Consider the myth of Ganymede, abducted by Zeus in the guise of an eagle. Similarly, we can compare Crane’s crow to the figure of Icarus, whose hubris led to his downfall. Such visual parallels reveal how these cautionary tales persist in our collective consciousness. The cyclical resurgence of these archetypes across art history speaks to our enduring fascination with morality and the consequences of our actions.