The wounded standard bearer Hans Baer 1896

Ferdinand Hodler created this drawing of the wounded standard bearer Hans Baer with pencil and colored chalk. The flag, a timeless symbol of allegiance and nationhood, rises above the fallen soldiers, a stark contrast between aspiration and grim reality. Consider the act of bearing a standard, seen even in ancient Egypt and Rome; it's a potent gesture, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Flags throughout the ages have been raised in both triumph and despair, functioning as rallying points. Here, the limp figures of the standard bearers evoke deep empathy and remind us that they are bound together by shared trauma. Observe the flag, a symbol of continuity, which has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts. The psychological weight of such a symbol is undeniable, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.