To ænder. Dekorativt udkast. 1817 - 1875

P.C. Skovgaard sketched two ducks in this decorative draft. The duck, seemingly simple, is a potent emblem across cultures, bridging earth and water. In ancient Egypt, the duck symbolized protection and was associated with the sun god Ra's daily journey. Here, these Danish ducks, serene on the water, evoke a sense of tranquility. But consider how, in other contexts, the duck motif transforms. In some indigenous cultures, the duck is a messenger or a trickster, embodying adaptability and resourcefulness. Think of the swan in classical mythology, Leda and the Swan, embodying a sense of transformation and divine power. The duck, like the swan, becomes a vessel for deeper psychological undercurrents. The enduring presence of such motifs reveals a collective memory, a reservoir of symbols that continue to engage us on a profound, often subconscious, level. The symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings.