Swiss and Red Cross Flags Oil Painting

Alain’s first ski outing in USA, drawn to all the people wearing a Swiss cross on their jackets, led him to discover that Americans often mistake the Swiss cross for the Red Cross! Curious, he asked why… He was told that having more red than white on the jacket made it more visible in the snow.

This confusion didn’t stop there. More recently, during a march, an American asked him if he was part of the rescue team. Alain, puzzled, asked why… He was told it was because of the red cross on his cap. Amused, he replied, "Strange, because that’s my Swiss cap… how did my white cross change color?"

Given this recurring mix-up in the U.S., Alain decided to create a painting to illustrate the misunderstanding:

In the center, a cross that is neither white nor red… or both white and red.
Above, three arrows pointing in opposite directions, with one longer arrow guiding toward the true Swiss flag.
At the bottom, supports for the three symbols, but with an impossible 3D structure to represent spatial confusion.
At the top left and right, objects arranged in an equally impossible 3D perspective, symbolizing confusion in groups as well.
In the background, one of Switzerland’s most iconic symbols: the Matterhorn, reflecting on an alpine lake.
With a touch of artificial intelligence, which suggested the following: "The red color of the Swiss flag in oil painting is often depicted as a deep, warm hue. This intense red is achieved by mixing pigments such as cadmium red or vermilion with oil. The exact shade may vary depending on the artist and their style, but the goal is always to create a strong, bold red that symbolizes Switzerland’s national identity.