Untitled (Blengins Capturing Glandelinian Soldiers) 

Henry Darger created this watercolor and collage, populated with his Blengins and Glandelinian soldiers, amidst an epic war. Look at the curious butterflies. These delicate creatures, often symbols of transformation and the soul's journey, flutter across this landscape of conflict. Yet, here they are, oversized and almost surreal, amidst scenes of battle. We might recall the ancient Greeks, who saw butterflies as symbols of the psyche, or soul, emerging from the cocoon of earthly existence. Butterflies also appear in Dutch vanitas paintings, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change. Here, amidst the turmoil of Darger's creation, these butterflies perhaps speak to the fragile nature of innocence. The mind grasps for a narrative, but, in truth, the collision of innocence and brutality resonates deeply. These images connect on a subconscious level, revealing a timeless drama of human experience. These symbols and motifs, continuously resurfacing, remind us of their perpetual evolution across time and space.