Butterfly card from the Butterflies and Moths of America series 1862 - 1869

Editor: So this is a “Butterfly card from the Butterflies and Moths of America series,” created sometime between 1862 and 1869 by Louis Prang & Co. It's a drawing and print, currently residing at the Met. It almost feels like an illustration from a child’s book, something both scientific and charming. What strikes you about it? Curator: The immediate appeal definitely stems from its scientific and artistic convergence, but let’s think about the social context. Prang was instrumental in popularizing chromolithography in America. Consider the moment: mass production democratizing art, making beautiful images accessible to a wider audience. Were these cards purely decorative, or did they serve a broader educational or even propagandistic role? Editor: Propagandistic? In what way? Curator: Think about naturalism as a style. Representing American flora and fauna might seem innocuous, but it's tied to national identity. Identifying and classifying natural resources played a part in westward expansion and asserting dominion over the land. How does that impact your view? Editor: That’s a darker layer than I initially considered. Seeing it as this almost innocent portrayal of nature, it's unsettling to think it could be connected to land appropriation. Does knowing this change the way the artwork functions within a museum space today? Curator: Absolutely. Acknowledging that complex history opens avenues for critical engagement. How do we, as a public institution, frame this artwork now? Is it a celebration of nature, a document of 19th-century printmaking, or a reminder of a complicated legacy? Editor: So much more than just a pretty picture then! I guess understanding that socio-political backdrop makes the work far richer. Curator: Exactly. It compels us to think critically about the values embedded in images, both past and present.