Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlijn 1876 - 1890

Friedrich Albert Schwartz captured this image of the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin with photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. Considered a key example of Berlin’s architecture, the museum was built during a period of significant national identity formation in Germany. The architecture references classical antiquity. Yet, while it was intended to project an image of cultural unity and national pride, we might also consider who was included, and who was excluded, from this vision of German identity. Looking at the figures on the bridge, we’re offered a glimpse into the everyday life of the time. Who are these people crossing the bridge? What are their stories, their backgrounds? In thinking about identity and representation, the photograph might be viewed as both a reflection of its time, and as a document that invites us to reflect on how we construct our own narratives about the past.