Standbeeld van Goethe op het Goetheplatz in Frankfurt am Main, Duitsland 1860 - 1865

This stereoscopic photograph by Hippolyte Jouvin captures the Goethe statue in Frankfurt am Main. The composition presents a symmetrical, almost dreamlike image. The sepia tones evoke a sense of historical distance, muting the vibrant colors of life into a monochromatic study. Note how Jouvin uses the stereoscopic format not just for depth but as a formal device to double the architectural and sculptural elements. This doubling effect creates a structural rhythm, emphasizing the public and commemorative nature of the statue. The surrounding foliage blurs the sharp lines of the statue and buildings, softening the cultural assertion of the monument. Consider how this photograph, with its formal doubling and tonal blurring, invites us to reflect on the nature of memory, representation, and the cultural construction of greatness. What do we preserve, how do we preserve it, and what does it mean to see it doubled, mediated through the lens of history and art?