Volante, from The World's Racers series (N32) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette cards, captures Volante, one of the world's racers. Here, the rider sports a bold 'X' on his chest. While seemingly simple, this symbol carries echoes of ancient heraldry and religious iconography. Consider the cross, a motif resonating through centuries. In early Christian art, it symbolized sacrifice and redemption. Yet, pre-Christian cultures also revered the cross in various forms, representing the cosmos or the meeting point of earthly and divine realms. The 'X', a variation of the cross, mirrors this potency. Perhaps subconsciously, the viewer connects the rider's prowess with these deeply embedded notions of destiny. Whether in ancient Rome as a symbol of fate or later adapted in heraldry to signify alliances, this geometric form transcends its simple shape. This potent symbol reminds us that images possess an enduring capacity to engage our emotions, subtly shaping our perceptions.