Illustration for The Nutcracker and the Mouse King 1924

This is an illustration for The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by Artuš Scheiner. Observe the swan, an ancient symbol of purity and grace, here multiplied to draw a magical boat with the protagonists through a pink sea. The swan is associated with transformation and beauty, often linked to stories of metamorphosis, like Leda and the Swan. The motif of a swan boat also appears in Lohengrin’s legend, where a knight arrives in a boat pulled by swans. The boat itself, pulled by fantastic carp-like fish, recalls ancient myths where fish were symbols of fertility and abundance, and vehicles for souls journeying to the afterlife. See how these motifs of swans and fish intertwine, conveying a dreamlike journey filled with hope and enchantment. They evoke a sense of wonder, tapping into our collective memory of tales where nature and the supernatural dance together, guiding us through the realms of imagination and transformation.