Twee zwanen 1654 - 1712

This print, titled "Two Swans," was made by an anonymous artist with an engraving technique. It shows two swans in a naturalistic style. Swans, throughout European history, have been culturally coded with complex meanings. They appear in classical mythology as embodiments of beauty and grace and symbols of love and fidelity. But the image of a swan also carries associations with aristocratic privilege, as swans were once exclusively owned by the British monarchy. In the Netherlands, swans are a feature of the canals and rivers, representing natural beauty as an aspect of national identity. This print, with its combination of the ordinary and the ideal, would have been consumed in a domestic context. Understanding the historical context is essential. The art historian often has to conduct extensive research using primary sources like letters, diaries, and institutional records.