Well from doing a bit more research the Quadrant is actually part of the cipher. So if there are other X with letters to be found or even tic tac toe style shapes with letters they would also be part of the cipher.
Coded messages would be in the form of squares or right angle arrows or left angle arrows etc which would then be then decoded into the letters that the shape corresponds with.
In this case > would correspond with AS.
But having the JP and PP would make it hard for them to be used to form words although there are words with pp (Happy) etc but unlikely for JP.
so unless other ciphers are found and also possibly a code I think it may just be a coincidence in regards to PigPen cipher
But the letters could just stand for something, such as;
AA; Anti-Aircraft? during WW1 France and Germany began to adapt field guns to fire into the air.
PP; Phantom Program offcourse.
JP; John Pierpont “Jack” Morgan Jr a bigtime world war 1 financier? Member of the Jekyll island club, also got shot by Eric Muenter; a self-proclaimed assasin who also bombed the Senate and predicted the bombing of a steamship bound for England before committing suicide.
AS; no idea.
Could also be interperted as directions, where to go on a specific map. Or as instructions of what to do.
Guys, this must be a dead end. If it was supposed to be a clue, it would be one thing on one map. I’ve found multiple pictures like this on Ballroom Blitz and someone found one on Amiens. Just saying.
But still. What is it and why is it on the painting? we dont even know if it is map designer signatures. should probably figure out exactly what it is before discounting it.
I may have found something
I put in the letters from the painting on ballroom blitz in google search along with ww1. if you go to images it shows some travel routes of ships. and the is about royal navy log books! http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-06-HMS_Liverpool.htm
here is the link please check it out I think I might be on to something
( i put “aa as jp pp ww1” in google search if anyone was wondering)