The Butterfly Collector 

"The Butterfly Collector" is an oil painting by Medi Wechsler Dinu. Born in Romania in 1908, Dinu's life and art were deeply entwined with the socio-political upheavals of the 20th century. The painting depicts a figure, perhaps a child, reaching out as if to catch butterflies in a field. The brushstrokes are expressive, and the colors muted, lending the scene an air of wistful memory. As a Jewish woman artist living through periods of intense political turmoil, including World War II and the subsequent communist regime in Romania, Dinu's work often carried a sense of yearning and resilience. The act of "collecting" here could be a metaphor for preserving beauty amidst chaos, an assertion of personal agency in times of oppression. "Painting is a means of knowing myself," Dinu once said, so perhaps this painting reflects her own search for identity and meaning within the landscapes of her life. Ultimately, the painting invites us to reflect on the interplay between personal experience and broader historical narratives, reminding us that even in the most challenging times, art can offer solace.