Card 32, Pyrameis Caryae, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This chromolithograph card, number 32 from the Butterflies series, was made by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., and presents us with a curious blend of human and insect form. Notice how the composition centers on a woman whose diaphanous wings mimic those of the Pyrameis Caryae butterfly. The artist employs a delicate balance of color; the soft pinks and greens of her attire contrast with the vivid reds and blues of the butterfly wings, creating a visually arresting, yet harmonious effect. The scale is intimate, designed for close inspection. It’s a semiotic puzzle, blurring the lines between nature and culture. Are we meant to see a literal transformation, or is it a symbolic representation of beauty and ephemerality? The card challenges our understanding of taxonomy, inviting us to reconsider fixed categories and explore the fluidity of identity. Consider, finally, how the artist uses line and color to create a sense of movement and lightness. This delicate balance destabilizes established meanings, inviting ongoing interpretation of nature, identity, and representation.