The Signal 1915

Henri Le Fauconnier created this artwork, titled ‘The Signal,’ using bold strokes. The checkered flag is not merely a symbol of games or races; it is a primal call, an indicator of transition. Across time, flags have been potent emblems. Consider their early use on battlefields, carrying the symbols of power, or the flags displayed during the French Revolution, which signalled radical change. Le Fauconnier uses this emblem to tap into our subconscious recognition of the flag as a harbinger of events, a marker of moments laden with expectation and the excitement of change. The checkered flag, as a recurring motif, has been adapted and incorporated into the artistic and cultural landscapes, each time echoing the emotional intensity associated with transformation. It is a symbol that continues to evolve, its presence in modern media and art echoing this potent legacy of calling forth transition.