Ship dashed against ship, till the Persian Army dead strewed the deep like flowers 

Walter Crane created this illustration with watercolor and ink, capturing a naval battle with striking visual clarity. Notice how Crane uses a high vantage point, which crams the composition with numerous ships and figures, all rendered in bright, almost decorative colors. Crane's formalism in detailing each ship with unique, symbolic shields disrupts any singular narrative. The shields, adorned with symbols like a swastika, bull, and serpent, function semiotically, offering fragmented cultural codes. These elements, combined with the repetitive patterns of the oars and the stylized waves, create a visual rhythm that belies the chaos of battle. The swan-headed prows of the ships add to the surreal atmosphere, further destabilizing a straightforward interpretation of heroism or tragedy. Crane invites us to consider the spectacle of war. The structured chaos and symbolic overload challenge fixed meanings, suggesting that war's representation is as much about aesthetics and cultural symbols as it is about historical events.