Cullercoats from the South by John Wilson Carmichael 1845

John Wilson Carmichael rendered this coastal view of Cullercoats with oil on canvas, capturing a slice of 19th-century life by the sea. The flagstaff, prominently placed on the hill, speaks of communication and territoriality. Flags, throughout history, from Roman vexilla to maritime signals, have served as potent symbols of allegiance and information. Consider, for instance, how the swastika, once a symbol of well-being, was appropriated and transformed into an emblem of terror by the Nazis. Here, the flag invites us to reflect on the shifting sands of meaning and the heavy weight of history that symbols carry. This image stirs something primal within us, a deep-seated connection to place, identity, and the ever-changing narratives we project onto our world. The sea, a restless mirror reflecting our own subconscious, and the land, rooted yet ever evolving.