Bank of Swans
Artwork Description
“I came upon this scene in Scotland but it could be in Virginia or Vancouver. The mute swan has been released into the wild in North America and has become one of the most common and conspicuous waterfowl. Our native tundra swan and trumpeter swan have black bills and more ‘wild’ habits. I don’t use wild in the sense of a motorcycle gang. I use it in the sense of being in areas away from human development. The mute swan with its prominent orange bill has become used to man and his communities since ancient times in its native Europe. Therefore a favourite habitat would be on lakes and quiet rivers in city parks. They have no need to migrate in Europe, and have adapted similarly throughout their North American range, being found in open water in winter as well as summer.
I saw this group resting and preening beside the sea with dark water reflecting a dark sky and low, warm light gracing their shapes, like some off stage lighting illuminating a corps de ballet getting ready for ‘Swan Lake.’” – Robert Bateman
Also available:
- Offset Paper Edition of 950, 16 1/4″ x 32 1/2″
