Toegangsportaal van een pand aan Reichenstraße 3 te Braunschweig 1892

This is a photograph of an entrance at Reichenstrasse 3 in Braunschweig, Germany, taken by W. Berge. The image likely comes from a survey of local architectural monuments. Note the elaborate carving of the portal in a late Renaissance style. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, German cities saw the rise of heritage movements dedicated to the preservation and documentation of historic buildings. These movements were closely tied to German nationalism and civic pride. The institutions of art and architectural preservation played a key role in shaping popular perceptions of history. Surveys such as this one helped to define and celebrate a distinctly German architectural identity, often in contrast to other European styles. To understand the image better, you might want to research the history of architectural preservation in Germany, as well as the political context of Braunschweig at the turn of the century.