Studier af ørn (?) 1864 - 1941

These sketches of an eagle, made by Niels Larsen Stevns, capture the essence of a bird that has soared through human imagination for millennia. The eagle, a symbol of power and divinity, appears in various cultures—from the Roman Empire to the indigenous traditions of the Americas. Consider the eagle's association with Zeus or Jupiter, rulers of the gods, and its embodiment of authority, victory, and foresight. This motif isn't static; it evolves. Think of the double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Byzantine Empire, representing a dual authority, secular and religious. How does this compare to the single eagle representing modern nation states, such as Germany or the United States, where the eagle symbolizes freedom, courage, and national strength? The persistent reappearance of the eagle highlights a deep-seated human fascination with this creature, embedding it in our collective consciousness. It’s more than just a bird, it is an emotional and psychological projection of our innermost desires for strength and dominance. This symbolic representation of the eagle has undergone continuous transformation and has become a reflection of shifting cultural values.