Les Conquerants 

Luc-Olivier Merson created this ink wash drawing called "Les Conquerants". Here, a European conquistador stands triumphant, armed and armored, with a flag piercing the sky and an angel hovering benevolently behind him. Flags in art act as potent emblems of ownership and national identity, but also as instruments of dominion. The conquistador's armor, reminiscent of medieval knights, echoes the cultural memory of chivalry. We observe this symbolic association evolve through time, appearing in Roman military garb, and later re-emerging in modern military uniforms. It is a recurring attempt to project power through dress. Note how the conquered subjects at the bottom of the composition seem to celebrate their conqueror. This paradox reveals the complicated psychological and cultural dynamics of subjugation and dominance. The collective subconscious of a culture can often be manipulated to interpret such a symbol in contradictory ways. Ultimately, this artwork serves as a potent reminder of the complexities inherent in symbols of conquest and the cyclical, evolving ways in which they are perceived.