From dear Wikipedia, "House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and the House Majority Whip, who, after getting passed over for promotion to Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on those who betrayed him."

-The Lincoln monument helps convey the political subject matter and the Washington DC setting.

-Spacey's knuckles are bloody, as if he has been punching people -- helping the image tie in with the "exact his revenge" bit.

-The upside-down US flag perhaps suggests the show is set at a time of crisis (upside-down flag is a sign for distress at sea, as troubled boats turn their flags upside-down) -- or perhaps that Spacey's character is using his position in US government toward twisted ends.

From dear Wikipedia

House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and the House Majority Whip, who, after getting passed over for promotion to Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on those who betrayed him.

• The Lincoln monument helps convey the political subject matter and the Washington DC setting.

• Spacey's knuckles are bloody, as if he has been punching people -- helping the image tie in with the "exact his revenge" bit.

• The upside-down US flag perhaps suggests the show is set at a time of crisis (upside-down flag is a sign for distress at sea, as troubled boats turn their flags upside-down) -- or perhaps that Spacey's character is using his position in US government toward twisted ends.

Overall, the show is about the US president doing what he needs to do to govern successfully, even when that means playing dirty. So:

-The Lincoln monument helps convey Spacey's presidential character and the Washington DC setting.

-Spacey's knuckles are bloody, as if he has been punching people -- helping the image tie in with the tagline for the show, which is something like "behaving badly for the common good."

-The upside-down US flag is a nautical sign for emergency (boats turn their flags upside-down) suggesting the show is set at a time of crisis in the US.

From dear Wikipedia, "House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and the House Majority Whip, who, after getting passed over for promotion to Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on those who betrayed him."

-The Lincoln monument helps convey the political subject matter and the Washington DC setting.

-Spacey's knuckles are bloody, as if he has been punching people -- helping the image tie in with the "exact his revenge" bit.

-The upside-down US flag perhaps suggests the show is set at a time of crisis (upside-down flag is a sign for distress at sea, as troubled boats turn their flags upside-down) -- or perhaps that Spacey's character is using his position in US government toward twisted ends.