Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm III van Pruisen 19th century

This is G.W. Lehmann's portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. Notice how Wilhelm wears an Iron Cross, a military decoration that became synonymous with Prussian, and later German, militarism. The Iron Cross emerged during the Napoleonic Wars, intended to inspire patriotic fervour. Its stark design, a black cross, was deliberately simple, yet imbued with a powerful psychological effect. Its visual echo can be found in the Teutonic Order's cross, a symbol of medieval crusades, invoking a sense of historical continuity and martial prowess. Yet, consider how this symbol evolved. Initially a marker of bravery, its repeated use through the world wars transformed it. The cross resurfaces, evolving into a loaded signifier of both courage and the darker aspects of German history. It serves as a potent reminder of how symbols can accumulate layers of meaning.