De goudkleurige vlinder 1876 - 1890

This color print presents a series of vignettes depicting a character named ‘La-To’ and his interactions with a golden butterfly. The butterfly, a symbol deeply entrenched in the human psyche, transcends cultures and epochs as a potent emblem of transformation. The butterfly's presence here echoes its earlier symbolic appearances. In ancient Greek, Psyche was represented with butterfly wings, embodying the soul and its metamorphosis. In Japan, the butterfly is often seen as the soul of the living or the dead. As we see here, the golden butterfly, a shimmering beacon of hope, guides La-To through various trials. The transformations we see La-To undergo invite reflection on the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The butterfly, through its own metamorphosis, reminds us of the potential for renewal and change, which speaks to our subconscious desire for transformation and immortality.