Der Runde Turm und der Festung in Nürnberg (The Round Tower and Fortress in Nuremberg) c. 1852

Georg Schmidt's photograph captures the round tower and fortress of Nuremberg, Germany. At its heart lies the tower, an architectural symbol of power and protection. This image is a modern echo of ancient watchtowers and fortifications meant to defend and survey. The tower form, ever-present in human history, reappears across cultures: in the ziggurats of Mesopotamia or the minarets of Islamic architecture, it has been reimagined time and time again as a symbol of strength, spiritual aspiration, or connection between earthly and celestial realms. Like a phallus piercing the sky, the tower stirs something deep within our collective consciousness, a desire for permanence and control. Yet, over time, the tower's meaning shifts. In fairy tales, it becomes a prison; in modern cities, it represents corporate dominance. Schmidt’s photograph reminds us that these symbols are not fixed, but evolve, carrying layers of history and subconscious meaning with them.