Miss Relyea, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is a photograph, printed by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of the Actresses series. Here, Miss Relyea is portrayed against a theatrical backdrop of tree and field. But it's her attire that draws our attention: a costume adorned with what seem to be stylized feathers or stylized vegetal fronds. These symbols, reminiscent of wings or leaves, evoke ancient associations. Consider how similar motifs appear in Minoan art, adorning goddesses and priestesses, symbolizing their connection to nature and the divine. Now, imagine these symbols carried through the centuries, appearing in Renaissance paintings as emblems of pagan deities, then reappearing here as an actress's costume. This evolution reflects our complex relationship with the past. The fluttering wings of the butterfly that are conjured by the dress symbolize a metamorphic power that both attracts and unsettles us. The attire invites us to delve into the depths of memory, revealing how the echoes of bygone eras continue to shape our present.