Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, Italy, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This late nineteenth-century chromolithograph by Allen & Ginter pictures the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, an Italian dynastic honor. At its heart, the cross is not merely a symbol of faith, but a nexus where sacrifice meets salvation. The cross, with arms of equal length, evokes a sense of balance and universality, a form that predates Christianity, appearing in various cultures to symbolize the cosmos, and the meeting point of the divine and earthly realms. The crown above this cross, once emblems of royal authority, find echoes in Byzantine mosaics and medieval reliquaries. Notice how the crown's circular form, a halo of power, contrasts with the cross's angular structure. This is a recurring theme in visual culture. Such emblems are not static; they evolve. The swastika, for example, shares an ancient lineage with the cross, yet its modern connotations are tragically twisted. It underscores how symbols are vessels filled with ever-shifting cultural meanings. The symbols in this image tap into our collective memory, stirring emotions that transcend time, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.