Death's Head Hawkmoth, Archival Poster

About this collection:

Moths are often seen as pesky, invasive, sweater-eating night bugs that fly into your light and get caught in inconvenient places where you can't get them out. Some see them as the ugly nighttime counterpart to the beautiful image associated with the butterfly. However, moths are actually very valuable nocturnal pollinators. They are fuzzy, beautifully patterned, and can help your flower bed absolutely flourish.

The folklore that surrounds moths is fascinating. In Appalachian folklore, a white moth inside the home symbolizes the presence, protection, or spiritual guidance of your ancestors. Silk Moths have no mouth parts for eating and their entire purpose is to find a mate, continue the species, and complete the cycle when they die. Each type of moth from various corners of the world has its own folklore to accompany their already mysterious nature, being a nocturnal pollinator. 

About this painting:

The Death's-Head Hawkmoth in particular, was often seen in European folklore as a bad omen. Many paintings throughout the middle ages depicted this, and the myth was popularized again as the calling card for fictional cannibal serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Their scientific name is Acherontia atropos. In Greek Mythology, Atropos was one of the Moroi and a goddess of fate and destiny (and not always a good one). Acheron is a river in Greece that was thought to be the pathway to the Underworld. 

They would often migrate to much of Europe, but are most native to warmer African and Middle Eastern climates. That is why I chose to surround this intriguing little whimsy with grains, pods, and spices. I believe that this moth is one of the most misunderstood species of an already misunderstood order of insects, and that is why I also chose to surround it with a wreath of protection and point it toward the beautiful horizon of the blue mountains. Acrylic on Canvas, 2022.

Available in 210gsm paper (satin) and 230gsm (archival matte), these prints will look stunning up close for a long time. 

.: Materials: 210 gsm paper (satin), 230 gsm paper (archival matte)
.: Two paper options - satin or archival matte
.: Available in 18 sizes
.: Horizontal, vertical and square options available
.: Assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts