Card 40, Pyrameis Huntera, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This is Card 40, Pyrameis Huntera, from the Butterflies series, a chromolithograph issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Here, the artist conflates the image of a woman with that of a butterfly. This metamorphosis carries profound symbolic weight. Since antiquity, the butterfly has represented the soul, transformation, and rebirth. The Greeks believed that Psyche, the soul, was depicted with butterfly wings, symbolizing her immortality. But observe how the butterfly wings here are adorned with what appear to be eyespots. This motif appears in various cultures as the "evil eye," meant to ward off malevolent spirits. In ancient Egypt, the Eye of Horus served as a powerful symbol of protection, healing, and restoration. Such imagery touches on our deepest anxieties and hopes; through this image, the subconscious links the ephemerality of life with the eternal promise of renewal. This symbol is far from linear; its power lies in its cyclical return, transformed yet recognizable, echoing across time and cultures.