Interieur van het restaurant in de Palmentuin van Frankfurt after 1871

Johann Friedrich Stiehm captured this photograph of the restaurant in Frankfurt's Palm Garden. The Palm Garden was created in the 19th century as the city's population rapidly grew. The civic leaders wanted a green space that would improve Frankfurt's reputation as a modern, international hub. The Palm Garden's restaurant became a symbol of wealth and social status in Frankfurt. The neoclassical architecture suggested the refinement of European high society. But we must also acknowledge the politics of imagery. The Palm Garden was also part of Germany's colonial project. It displayed exotic plants from around the world, reflecting the country's global ambitions. Was this garden about bringing people together, or about demonstrating Germany’s dominance? Understanding the art of the past requires us to become social historians. We can delve into archives and publications to learn more about the Palm Garden’s place in Frankfurt's history. Art always has deeper meanings when you view it in its social and institutional contexts.