The Butterfly 

Frederick Morgan painted this scene of childhood wonder, dominated by the symbol of the butterfly, a motif rich with meaning across cultures and epochs. In ancient Greece, the butterfly, or "psyche," was believed to represent the soul, emerging from the chrysalis much like the spirit leaving the body. This concept of metamorphosis, of transformation and rebirth, has since fluttered through art history. Consider the vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, where butterflies remind us of life's fleeting beauty. Here, the child's gentle gaze mirrors this delicate creature resting on her hand. The butterfly, a symbol of hope and renewal, touches a deeper chord within us, stirring primal memories of life's transient nature. Like the butterfly's transformative journey, symbols evolve and resurface, carrying echoes of past meanings while adapting to new cultural landscapes. They remind us of the intricate web of human experience, ever-changing, and eternally connected.