Mariposa, from the Song Birds of the World series (N42) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a lithograph of a ‘Mariposa’ song bird, produced by Allen & Ginter for a series of cigarette cards. Here, the bird and its nest of eggs are potent symbols of fertility and new life. The mariposa, meaning butterfly in Spanish, suggests transformation, a concept deeply rooted in the human psyche. The nest, brimming with eggs, evokes the promise of potential, of what is to come. Think of ancient Roman depictions of nests as emblems of security and domesticity, or the egg as a symbol of rebirth found in countless cultures. The egg motif reminds me of the famed Egg of Arezzo, an Etruscan ostrich egg engraved with a scene of the underworld. This same symbol appears throughout history, evolving and adapting. Here, the nest of eggs touches something primal, an unconscious understanding of life's cyclical nature and our innate drive to nurture and protect. It’s a small card, yet it sings of the eternal return.