The Swan of Tuonela
16 x 22
Stone Lithograph, Jovanovic © The "Swan of Tuonela" is the second of four legends in which composer Jean Sibelius created upon a few of the fifty 'runes' (i.e.cantos) of the Finnish national epic, the Kaevala. In Finnish mythology, Tuonela is the land of death, and is surrounded by a turbulent river on which the Swan floats, singing. The Hero, Lemminkainen, tries with his cross bow to kill the swan, and instead, is killed by a herdsman and cast into the river of death. The lyricism of the Second Legend is fairly static, creating an immobile image of the legendary bird on the river. I have drawn on limestone, the patterns of the water to express its rapid current, and the imperturbable swan floating "...majestically..." as Sibelius described her in his manuscript. Mythology serves in many ways, to me, its primary essence is symbolism. Lemminkainen is brought to life again by the magic powers of his mother. I have used the tree to balance this scene of death with its symbol of earth, life, and the unending cycle of creation. My publisher wrote: "Enhancing the tranquil mood of the lithograph, Jovanovic has drawn her image with great delicacy. The gradual fading of color further enhances the ethereal atmosphere of improbable reality. The image of the "Swan of Tunoela seems to hover precariously in a space without substance or time." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Print Purchase Options
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lucija jovanovic
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