Four butterflies 1646

Wenceslaus Hollar etched these four butterflies in 1646, capturing their delicate forms. Butterflies, across cultures, often symbolize transformation and the soul's journey. Consider the butterfly motif in ancient Roman art, adorning sarcophagi as emblems of metamorphosis and afterlife. These symbols of transition were also potent symbols of resurrection found in early Christian art. This resonates with the Greek myth of Psyche, whose name means both "soul" and "butterfly," embodying love and the soul's trials. Even today, we see butterflies released at funerals, continuing this ancient thread of transformation. The persistence of this symbol taps into a collective memory, an innate human fascination with change and renewal, reminding us of life's cyclical nature.