Card 36, Junonia Lavinia, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

Editor: So this is "Card 36, Junonia Lavinia, from the Butterflies series" by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., dating back to 1888. It's currently at the Met. What strikes me most is this figure of a woman merged with a butterfly. How fascinating! What do you make of this strange hybrid creature? Curator: It's certainly evocative. In terms of iconography, consider the butterfly, traditionally linked to the soul and transformation. Combining it with a woman, as seen here, pulls at cultural memories. Think of Psyche in classical mythology, often depicted with butterfly wings, representing the soul's journey, the process of transformation and immortality, and also beauty. Editor: So, the butterfly wings aren’t just decorative; they’re loaded with symbolic meaning. Curator: Precisely. Then we might reflect on the "Junonia Lavinia" title itself. "Junonia," a reference to Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and womanhood, brings another layer of meaning. What then, does the figure’s almost hesitant posture convey to you? Does it relate to these symbols? Editor: Maybe she's on the cusp of something, neither fully human nor fully butterfly, a symbol of becoming? Or perhaps about the expectations or constraints imposed on women represented by Juno, trying to escape or break free, transforming? Curator: That's insightful. This image really seems to engage in that sort of dialogue, doesn't it? What's more, in that period of the late 19th century, these types of trade cards like this became hugely popular ways for people to access images and reflect cultural ideals back to people. Editor: I never thought about that cultural context. Curator: It encourages reflection. This card presents an accessible piece of symbolism. I have found I can come back to it repeatedly. Editor: Absolutely, I agree. It's given me so much to consider about image making in popular culture and deeper meanings.