Butterflies have enchanted people for thousands of years, capturing human imagination for so long that they are deeply entwined in our culture and history. Butterfly: Exploring the World of Lepidoptera delves into this enduring love for butterflies, moths, and caterpillars, taking readers on a journey across continents and cultures to discover the endless ways artists and image-makers throughout history, from ancient Egypt over 4,000 years ago to the present day, have been inspired by these ethereal insects. Featuring more than 250 entries, each represented with a gorgeous large-scale image, this expansive visual survey spans a wide range of styles and media, including paintings, botanical illustrations, sculptures, nature photography, children' books, textiles, and jewelry. Cleverly paired to highlight thought-provoking contrasts and similarities between them, regardless of the time period, the images showcase butterflies and moths - from the blue morpho and monarch to the death'-head hawkmoth - in all stages of their life cycles. The vibrant colors in Eric Carle' childhood classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar complement the playfulness of a butterfly-filled collage by British Pop Artist Peter Blake, while the shape of the goddess Obsidian Butterfly, carved into stone in fourteenth-century Mexico, matches perfectly that of a falling moth, captured in a beautiful black and white photograph by Japanese artist Chuji Yasui.

• Format: Hardback
• Publication Date: 30/09/2025
• Publisher: Phaidon Press Ltd
• Country of Origin: United Kingdom
• Pages: 312
• Dimensions (mm): 290x250x35mm