seasonal journey

渡り鳥とニルス

10 November 1971, Sweden
Nils Hogersson on Goose
from “The Wonderful Adventures of Nils” by Selma Lagerlöf
designer: P. Pettersson
engraver:  Czesław Słania

Yesterday afternoon I saw a group of birds in the sky, in formation flight heading South.  Too far away to identify, but I guess they are migrating Geese.  That V shape reminded me of this stamp, engraved by  Czesław Słania.  Let’s enlarge a beautiful detail…

1971Sweden002-2

“The Wonderful Adventures of Nils” was an animated film on TV when I was a child in Japan and it is evocative for me.  Because of that TV series, I still imagine a little boy on one of the Geese when I see the V-shaped formation of migrating birds.

V字の編隊を組んで南に向かうガンを見上げて『ニルスの不思議な旅』が描かれたこの切手を思い出しました。伝説の彫刻師と呼ばれるチェスラフ・スラニアのディテールを拡大すると、小さなドットの集まりでニルスの帽子や靴、ガンの立体感がたくみに表現されています。

子供の頃にアニメ番組で観た空からの眺めが頭に残っていて、渡り鳥の編隊を見ると地上を眺めている小さな男の子を思い浮かべます。原作の著者セルマ・ラーゲルレーヴは、スウェーデンではフェミニズムの先駆者としても知られる作家だったのですね。

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