Gezicht op Berlijn vanuit het Berliner Schloss, met links de toren van het Rotes Rathaus, rechts de Nikolaikirche, de brug op de voorgrond is de voormalige Lange Brücke 1878

Here we have Johann Friedrich Stiehm’s, "View of Berlin from the Berliner Schloss," an albumen print created around 1878. Stiehm, a photographer during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Germany, captures Berlin's architectural landscape, including the Rotes Rathaus and Nikolaikirche. This image is more than a depiction of buildings; it is a document of a society undergoing transformation. The composition reflects the era's emphasis on order and progress, yet the sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, hinting at the cultural shifts and losses inherent in modernization. How do we reconcile our sense of progress with that which is lost in its wake? The photograph is a cultural artifact that prompts us to consider the complexities of identity, history, and societal change. It invites us to reflect on Berlin's past and present, and on our own roles in shaping the future.