Flags are potent symbols, often representing belonging, culture, and values, yet also associated with conflict and sacrifice. In France, as the nation commemorates the end of World War II on Thursday, May 8, photographer Guillaume Herbaut explores the evolving significance of the French flag through the lens of a new generation.
Herbaut’s project began on November 11, 2014, in Tergnier, northern France, where he observed young people proudly carrying flags at a war memorial. These young flag-bearers, mirroring the veterans of past conflicts, were participants in a program by the National Office for Veterans and Victims of War, designed to fill the ranks at commemoration ceremonies and pass down the associated memories and history.
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Returning from covering the Maidan revolution in Ukraine, where young people waved flags as symbols of freedom, Herbaut saw a parallel in these young French citizens. He photographed around 30 of them across France, from Aurillac to Marseille, capturing their commitment to representing their country on Armistice Day and Bastille Day. The project, awarded a photographic residency by the Army Museum in Paris, will be presented on May 22, alongside historian Odile Roynette.
These young volunteers, with diverse origins – Thai, Comorian, Algerian, Chechen, and more – represent a cross-section of French society. Many are women. Their motivations vary, from family war stories and respect for Republican values to a sense of gratitude to France and a desire to feel fully French.
Herbaut emphasizes that while some have military aspirations, many pursue diverse careers in fields like catering, fashion, or political science. His portraits offer a glimpse into France’s future, highlighting hope and a vision of the nation yet to come. This flag, therefore, symbolizes not just the nation’s past, but its evolving identity.
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