Hope the Butterfly

Hope the Butterfly
By: Jessa Huebing-Reitinger

This painting, done by Jessa Huebing-Reitinger, is very characteristic of the types of paintings that she is known for and creates. Performing live within public areas as part of a project called “Project InSECT” and creating large robust paintings of insects such as “Hope” the butterfly, makes this one not at all an aberration from Reitinger’s usual ways. However, due to her immense love of insects, and devotion towards education and conservation among the masses, Reitinger has managed to produce an image that draws forth emotions, seemingly hidden behind carefully crafted wings.

Upon looking at the image, it’s clear that the focal point is specifically on the butterfly itself and how it’s sitting, almost floating, mystically in mid-air against its background. Also, the use of earth tones helps to make the butterfly appear quite primitive and sagacious in appearance, with wings colored in hues equated in harmony on either side of its slender body. By displaying such a bleak, dark background, the butterfly seems to stick out against the dark, and look up towards the light that is shining and filtering down upon it. It’s wings are spread in flight, and its shadow shows that there has already been progress in the creature’s forward, and/or upward motion towards what looks like a much brighter future and destiny.

Such a painting seems to suggest that no matter how dark or gloomy times may get, there is always a ray of hope among the shadows and despair, if only it’s sought. For then, if that tiny ray of hope is found, wings of freedom can only follow, like that of Hope’s, in order to lead the way to new beginnings shown in a very different light.