Ruïne van stadsmuur en stadspoort te Straatsburg 1871

This photograph of the ruined city wall and gate in Strasbourg was taken by German Wolf sometime in the late 19th century. The image captures a moment of transition and destruction, reflecting the city's complex historical position between France and Germany. Strasbourg, with its mixed Franco-Germanic culture, had long been a site of contestation. Looking at this photograph, it's impossible not to consider the impact of the Franco-Prussian War and the subsequent annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany. The ruined wall, standing as a stark reminder of conflict and shifting national identities, invites us to reflect on the experience of those who lived through these tumultuous events. Did they identify as French, German, or something else entirely? Wolf's photograph serves as a poignant testament to the ways in which political events and cultural identity intersect. The photograph is a reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring power of place in shaping individual and collective destinies.