Le départ des hirondelles
1862
Imagine a busy village scene where nature and human life are syncing up for a big goodbye. In this 1862 illustration by Edmond Morin, swallows take flight in a massive flock, mirroring a traveler with a heavy pack who is walking away from a rustic cottage. The French text in the middle literally reads 'Swallows are leaving,' tying the bird migration to the human journey of departure. The composition is framed by intricate borders of Gothic ruins and foliage, with a surreal, inverted cityscape at the bottom that looks like a reflection in water, adding a dreamlike layer to this detailed engraving.
- Technique
- Wood engraving