"Spring" before 1895

"Spring" is a photogravure by S.L. Stein, printed by Neuberger Printing, and published by the Detroit Photographic Co. The image presents an ethereal, winged figure, reminiscent of classical depictions of nymphs or fairies. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when this image was made, there was a surge of interest in spiritualism and the occult, especially in artistic and literary circles. The figure in "Spring" embodies a sense of feminine beauty, but also perhaps an idealized or even escapist vision of womanhood. The delicate, almost fragile, representation contrasts sharply with the burgeoning social and political movements advocating for women's rights and equality during this time. The work evokes a sense of longing for an idyllic, untroubled existence and a connection with nature. Such images are also suggestive of the complex ways in which gender, identity, and representation intersected during the period of its creation. It invites us to consider whose visions are being represented and whose are being marginalized or erased.