Design for an Emblem of the State of South Carolina

About this work

This sketch shows three figures standing near a shield. On the left, a woman in flowing robes holds a spear and kneels beside a broken column. Behind the shield, a soldier in a dark uniform stands with a rifle, while a statue of a woman in ancient dress sits on top of the shield. The shield itself has two circular images—one of a ship, the other of a woman with a cornucopia. The broken column and the shield’s images hint at South Carolina’s history, mixing symbols of strength and tradition. The soldier’s rifle and the woman’s spear suggest a moment of tension or change. Next, look up Schussele, Christian to see how he used art to reflect history.