Card 17, Melitaea Nycteis, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This is "Card 17, Melitaea Nycteis," a chromolithograph trading card from a series produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The card presents an allegorical figure, blending human and insect attributes. The figure's face is rendered with delicate brushstrokes, but what commands immediate attention is the juxtaposition of the human form with the stylized butterfly wings. This contrasting design is a striking play between nature and artifice. The composition encourages us to contemplate the intersections of categories. What does it mean to hybridize a human with an insect? The wings, meticulously detailed with naturalistic colors and patterns, invite us to consider the semiotics of nature—how natural forms can function as signs within cultural codes. Ultimately, the card's appeal lies in how it destabilizes established meanings. It invites us to engage with new ways of thinking about representation, challenging our understanding of both human and natural forms.