Baja Graphic Arts

I discovered that Baja California has their own flag and seal. It is bold, and graphically interesting, but what the heck is this?  It took me a while to find a narrative explaining all of its meaning. 

From Wikipedia: it represents the past, the present and the future of the state. The motto "Work and social justice" is one of the goals of this state. In the upper part is the Sun, symbol of light, the main element nature gave the world and an inexhaustible source of energy, heat and life. To the sides, two human figures, with their hands joined in the middle, project a beam of light, symbol of energy. The book the man is holding in his hand represents culture. The woman is holding a test tube, which stands for chemistry, a carpenter's square, representing engineering, and an allegory for medicine. Together, these stand for the joining of intellectual work and science. 

I can figure out most of this, but I invite you to your own interpretation.

I am also enjoying the look and character of the official Mexican seal, as it appears on the national flag, with the eagle and snake motif that I remember from high school history and the founding of the Aztec empire.  A no-nonsense eagle.







Here is that eagle again, in a painting by Diego Rivera, depicting the history of Mexico from the time of the Spanish conquest - complicated maybe?
I will be staying in Loreto, the site of the first California mission - established in 1697. And from there the Spanish padres strung the chain of missions up to Sonoma, north of San Francisco.
Thank you Jared for the image.