Werkkamer van keizer Wilhelm I in het Berliner Stadtschloss 1889 - 1905

This photograph depicts the Werkkamer, or workroom, of Kaiser Wilhelm I in the Berliner Stadtschloss. The composition is dominated by a detailed depiction of the interior, rendered in shades of grey. The photograph invites us to consider the relationship between space, power, and representation. Its binary structure presents two nearly identical views of the room, creating an echo that destabilizes any singular, fixed interpretation. The room itself, filled with objects and symbols of authority, suggests a carefully constructed image of imperial power. The formal arrangement of these elements—busts, portraits, and decorative objects—functions as a visual language, encoding messages about the Kaiser's status and authority. The black and white medium flattens the image, emphasizing the stark contrast between light and shadow. It's a reminder that photography, even in its seemingly objective representation, is always mediated through the lens of the photographer and the technology of the time.