About the Logo
Think what it means to be a swan. To glide like a dream on the smooth surface of the lake,
and never go to the shore. On dry land, where ordinary people walk, the swan is awkward,
even ridiculous. When she waddles up the bank she painfully resembles a different kind of bird,
n'est-ce-pas? [...] And there she must stay, out on the lake; silent, white, majestic. Be a bird,
but never fly; know one song but never sing it until the moment of death. And so it must be for
you, Alexandra. Cool indifference to the staring crowds along the bank. And the song? Never.
––Nicholas, in The Swan 1956
The origins of the name of my blog, Noble and Lovely, are found in Philippians 4:8, where the Apostle Paul urges us to seek out all that is true, good, and beautiful, and to reflect deeply upon these timeless ideals. From Paul's list, the two words that seemed to have profound weightiness were noble and lovely, which together elegantly summarise the essence of what is true, good and beautiful in this world.
Similarly, my fascination with the swan, which is a recurring motif in my blog, stems from its symbolism in both Greek literature and the classic film, The Swan. In Greek literature, the swan represents all that is graceful, beautiful, and honourable, serving as an embodiment of the very same ideals that Paul urges us to contemplate and cherish. In the context of The Swan film from 1956, Nicholas is using the metaphor of a swan to advise Alexandra to maintain a certain kind of demeanour and behaviour. He mentions that her father used to call her his swan, which suggests that she had certain qualities that were reminiscent of a swan. Nicholas goes on to describe what it means to be a swan, highlighting the bird's grace and elegance as it glides smoothly on the surface of a lake. However, he also points out that on dry land, where most people walk, a swan appears awkward and ridiculous. He then advises Alexandra to be like a swan and maintain a cool indifference to the staring crowds along the bank, suggesting that she should not be affected by the opinions of others, as she reflects being white (perfect) and majestic. In other words, Alexandra is to maintain a dignified demeanour in the face of challenges and criticism. The latter is particularly important in our times where one is mocked for seeking and holding onto certain truths and ideals.
Regarding the logo's colour scheme, the cream colour was selected to evoke the aesthetic of Classical, Gothic, and Parisian architecture. On the other hand, the cream-green combination was chosen to capture the European landscapes that frequently blend harmoniously with these magnificent and captivating architectural styles.
As for the typography used in the logo, I have chosen a classic serif font that reflects my deep appreciation for the ancient philosophy of beauty and aesthetics. While sans serif fonts are typically associated with modernist design principles, philosophy and aesthetics, I find that the timeless elegance of serif fonts truly captures the spirit of my blog and its emphasis on noble and lovely ideals.
