 The style has evolved from the angular German Expressionism of Ward 's earlier books to a softer Art Deco one . He uses symbols throughout the book , such as the spinning of a spiderweb to indicate the passage of time , a fire hydrant echoing the emotions of a street riot , towering city buildings for capitalism , and flags for patriotism . The most prominent symbol is a flower , representing the artist 's distracted quest for beauty while he remains indifferent to the turmoil around him . 
