Annam, from Flags of All Nations, Series 2 (N10) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1890

This small chromolithograph card of “Annam,” now Vietnam, presents a vivid orange flag edged with triangular teeth, set against a backdrop of pagodas and tropical foliage. The flag, a symbol of national identity, vibrates with an energy not unlike a heraldic emblem from medieval Europe. Consider the jagged edges of the flag: these ‘teeth’ or ‘spears’ share a kinship with similar motifs found on banners across various cultures, from ancient tribal markers to modern corporate logos. These symbols, designed to catch the eye and instill a sense of awe and perhaps even fear, tap into something primal within us. The persistence of such motifs reveals our collective subconscious, expressing both power and the potential for aggression, reflecting our shared history and anxieties, and reminding us that symbols are never static, but evolve, adapt, and resurface in surprising new contexts.