Capitol of Tennessee in Nashville, from the General Government and State Capitol Buildings series (N14) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This color lithograph, by Allen & Ginter, depicts the Capitol of Tennessee in Nashville. The most dominant feature here is the Neoclassical architecture. Rows of columns stand like ancient Greek temples, symbols of democracy and reason. These columns echo through time, from the Parthenon to the Roman Senate, reappearing in the architectural language of power. The American flag waving atop the building is evocative. It reminds us of the unification of a nation. But flags can become charged symbols, their meanings shifting drastically across history and cultural contexts. Consider the psychological weight these symbols carry. The subconscious desire for order and stability is reflected in the symmetry and structure of the building. This architecture, like collective memory, is never static, always being reinterpreted.