Rear Admiral, Austria, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886 - 1891

This late 19th-century chromolithograph card by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes presents us with the Rear Admiral of Austria, set against the backdrop of his national flag. Note the flag: its colors, echoing through history, connect to the heraldic devices of the Habsburgs, rulers of Austria. The red, white, and red, resonate with ancient symbols of power and sovereignty. In the center of the flag we see the coat of arms; The shield, crowned, signifies the authority vested in the Emperor, a legacy stretching back to antiquity. Consider this symbol's transformations across time and place. Flags, like living organisms, have taken on new meanings, shifting from emblems of royal dominion to rallying cries for national identity, and even symbols of trade. This Rear Admiral, framed by the flag, reminds us that images are never static, but constantly transformed. This card serves as a reminder of how symbols are always engaged in a perpetual state of becoming, resonating across time.