Card 38, Chysophanus Americanus, from the Butterflies series (N183) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This chromolithograph card by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. depicts a woman adorned with butterfly wings, gazing at a flower. Here, the butterfly transcends mere insect; it is a symbol of transformation, a motif that has fluttered through the ages, bearing the weight of metamorphosis and rebirth. Consider how the Greeks depicted Psyche with butterfly wings, an embodiment of the soul’s journey. The butterfly’s life cycle, from earthbound caterpillar to winged beauty, mirrors the soul's aspiration to transcend the material realm. Yet, here, this symbol is interwoven with an almost classical female form, draped in garb adorned with a meander, a symbol of infinity. It’s as if the artist is tapping into a deep reservoir of cultural memory, where the classical world merges with the symbolism of nature. The woman, with the butterfly wings, becomes a vessel—a powerful image engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The butterfly, in its endless dance of death and rebirth, reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence itself.