Gezicht op de ingang van het Johanneum in Dresden 1888

This photographic print by Stengel & Markert captures the entrance to the Johanneum in Dresden. Above the doorway, notice the classical figures and the bas-relief panel depicting a scene of what looks like a battle or myth. These motifs recall the visual language of ancient Greece and Rome. Statues of triumphant figures atop buildings—like those we see here holding spears—echo the Roman Empire's celebration of military strength. Think of the Column of Trajan, where the emperor’s victories are immortalized in stone. This motif resurfaces throughout history, adorning cathedrals and palaces during the Renaissance, each time carrying connotations of power, victory, and divine favor. These symbols are more than mere decoration; they are charged with meaning. The image serves as a conduit, linking us to the hopes and fears of those who came before us.