Egg Dance, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small lithograph, printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, presents an "Egg Dance" performed by a dancer adorned with distinct symbols. The eggs themselves are ancient symbols of fertility and rebirth, prominently featured in pagan rituals and early Christian iconography. Observe her pose. One hand gracefully lifted, the other carefully balancing a basket of eggs. This echoes gestures found in Minoan snake goddess figurines, figures whose exposed breasts and raised arms exude raw power. This act appears in other ritual dances from different times and places, suggesting a deep, subconscious connection to ancient fertility rites and initiation ceremonies. The egg, an emblem of potential, balanced precariously, speaks to the fragility of life and the delicate dance between creation and destruction. This resonates with our deepest fears and desires, compelling us to witness and partake in the eternal cycle. The dance, after all, is not just a spectacle, but a profound engagement with the fundamental rhythms of existence. The motif resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, continuously echoing through the corridors of time.