Fragment of a Ship Flag c. 1620 - 1707

Curator: Shall we discuss this Fragment of a Ship Flag, created anonymously sometime between 1620 and 1707? It’s made of mixed media including weaving and watercolor on textile. Editor: Sure! I'm immediately struck by the flag’s worn appearance. The colors are faded, the edges are frayed. It feels incredibly… tactile and heavy with unspoken stories. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a powerful symbol, weathered by time and possibly conflict. The flag, even as a fragment, represents nationhood, power, and the human cost of exploration and empire. Its very anonymity speaks to the many untold stories of the people who lived and died under this banner. Considering its time, how does the symbol relate to modern post-colonial theory? Editor: Post-colonial theory? How so? Curator: Well, the flag is English, suggesting naval power during a period of intense colonization. Its worn state implies the battles fought, the resources extracted, and the human lives affected, prompting us to question the romantic narratives surrounding exploration. Think of whose stories aren't represented by this symbol, what do we see when this image is held up to discussions of the rise of England as a global empire? Editor: That's a good point. It prompts us to think about the individuals, often unnamed and unacknowledged, whose lives were touched - and often harmed - by the expansion of the English empire. So a symbol of nationhood also embodies subjugation and social control? Curator: Exactly. Flags represent belonging and shared identity, but also exclusion and the projection of power onto others. This fragment forces us to grapple with those complex layers. Editor: That definitely gives me a different perspective on it. I initially just saw a weathered piece of history. I now also recognize its symbolism in the history of colonization, identity, and conflict. Curator: That's the power of engaging with art through a critical lens! We excavate deeper meanings by acknowledging its complex, and sometimes uncomfortable, relationships with history and power.