Neues Palais in Potsdam 1855 - 1885

This photograph of the Neues Palais in Potsdam was captured by Siegfried Rosenthal. It's impossible to consider this image outside of its historical context: the Neues Palais was built to celebrate the end of the Seven Years’ War, an attempt to demonstrate Prussia’s power and wealth after a period of conflict. What does it mean to create a structure that flaunts wealth in the wake of so much loss? Look at the lone figure walking in front of the palace. Who would have been granted access to this space, and who would have been excluded? This photograph then becomes a study in contrasts - the grand architectural scale versus the lone human figure. Consider the identity of the photographer, Rosenthal, and the potential layers of meaning infused in his decision to capture this particular view. This photograph offers a glimpse into a complex interplay of power, wealth, and individual experience, asking us to consider the human cost of grand displays of dominance.