In a pointer instrument (1) having a pointer shaft (12) that deflects a pointer flag (10), the pointer flag (10) can be illuminated by means of a light source (14). For this purpose, the light source (14) is formed, for example, as a light-emitting polymer (13), which is applied between the pointer flag (10), which is formed at the same time as an electrode, and a further, transparent electrode (15), and emits light of any desired coloration under appropriate electrical excitation. The pointer flag (10) can assume any desired shape as the result of using such a light source (14) that can be shaped. In particular, multiple curvatures can be represented without differences in brightness occurring in this case.