View of the Alter Kranen in Würzburg; verso: Study of Three Soldiers and Two More Figures 1815

Johann Adam Klein captured this view of the Alter Kranen in Würzburg with a pencil on paper. The prominent crane isn't merely a feat of engineering; it's a symbol of human endeavor and the harnessing of natural forces. The crane, with its outstretched arm, evokes images of classical depictions of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, who controls the turning wheel of fate. In Klein's rendering, we see Fortuna reimagined through the lens of industry, her wheel replaced by the machinery of commerce and trade. Consider, too, the figures on the verso side. These soldiers are symbolic of the human will to power, their presence a constant reminder of society's subconscious instincts and the potential for conflict. These echoes of the past resonate in this depiction of 1815, reminding us of the enduring power of symbols and the way in which they are constantly reshaped by the currents of history and the collective psyche.