Centennial Textile - Flag 1935 - 1942

This “Centennial Textile - Flag,” created for the Centennial Exhibition of the United States in 1876, is rich with the symbols of national identity. Flags serve as potent emblems of collective memory and belonging. Consider the recurring motif of the eagle. Here, the American eagle dominates, clutching arrows and an olive branch, symbols of war and peace, which echoes the Roman eagle, an ancient signifier of imperial power. Russia also adopted the double headed eagle, as it is represented in the textile, symbolizing its own claim to imperial dominance. It is an image that evokes a sense of awe, perhaps even fear, deeply rooted in our subconscious understanding of power and authority. Observe how these symbols have been passed down, transformed, and reinterpreted across cultures. The cross on the Swiss flag, for example, carries echoes of Christian faith. Through time, these symbols become embedded in our collective psyche, resurfacing in various forms, evolving, and acquiring new layers of meaning with each historical context.