Hotel Klinger in de Untere Kreuzbrunnstrasse, Mariánské Lázně 1855 - 1868

This stereoscopic image of the Hotel Klinger in Mariánské Lázně was made by František Fridrich. Dominating the foreground are piles of rocks which, at first glance, seem like simple heaps of material. But consider their symbolic weight: the rock, a primal element, enduring through time. This motif echoes in countless traditions, from the sacred stones of antiquity to the foundation stones of monumental architecture. Think of the Kaaba, the cornerstone of Islam, or even the myth of Deucalion and Pyrrha, repopulating the world by casting stones. These rocks are not mere geological features, but rather, resonate with the concept of ‘archaic remnants’: traces of primeval, undifferentiated matter, waiting to be transformed. This can be seen in numerous other visual representations throughout history, as it echoes the psychological concept of primal matter and the potential for both destruction and creation. Consider how these seemingly static elements, embedded in a spa town known for healing waters, carry the echoes of cultural memory and the potential for renewal.