Illustration for the collection of short stories by Yevhen Gutsal "In the stork village" 1969

This illustration by Hryhorii Havrylenko accompanies Yevhen Gutsal's collection of short stories, "In the Stork Village". Dominating the horizon is a stork's nest, a powerful symbol of fertility, rebirth, and familial bonds across many cultures. The image of the stork, often seen as a bringer of new life, has roots stretching back to ancient mythologies. Consider its appearances in Egyptian hieroglyphs, where it embodies the soul, or in classical tales where the goddess Hera transformed a woman into a stork as punishment. We also see it carrying newborn babies, a symbol deeply embedded in our collective psyche. The nest, perched high, becomes a focal point—a vessel of hope and continuity. It evokes an emotional response, tapping into our subconscious understanding of nature's cycles and our connection to the past. As generations come and go, the nest remains. Even as meanings shift and evolve, the emotional core—a sense of home, belonging, and anticipation—endures.