Kiki Smith is a well-known German-born American artist whose work is concerned with issues of feminism and the human body. This is a relatively early work in which she considers fear of disease and uncontrollable deviation, particularly biological deviation such as cancer or AIDS.

The image appeals through its combination of menace and beauty and the implications of its title. Flag-waving can be about victory, fraternity and solidarity but also about protest and warning. Flags signal messages to those who have learned a special language, but can also communicate to people with no specialist knowledge beyond a fairly general cultural awareness.