Zwanen c. 1611 - 1732

"Swans" is an etching by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert. The print, now held in the Rijksmuseum, shows three swans in a natural setting. Bolswert was working in the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Netherlands was a hub of global trade, and there was a growing interest in the natural world. Prints like this were part of a larger cultural trend of documenting and categorizing nature. But I think there is more to it than that. Swans have long been symbols of grace, beauty, and purity, often associated with the feminine. Bolswert was skilled at rendering the texture of the swan’s plumage. The image is peaceful, but it's also a little unsettling. What are the swans doing? Are they preening, nesting, or something else? The image invites us to project our own feelings and experiences onto the animals. In doing so, the picture reflects our ideas about nature and our place in the world. It's a reminder that our relationship with nature is never simple or straightforward.