Börse Berlin 1868 - 1870

Editor: Here we have "Börse Berlin," a photograph, specifically an albumen print, captured by Johann Friedrich Stiehm between 1868 and 1870. There’s almost a hazy, dreamlike quality to the reflection in the water... It’s quite striking how still and silent the scene feels, even with the boats. What’s your take on it? Curator: Oh, I love the way the stillness of the water mirrors the solid permanence of the building; it's almost a conversation between solidity and fluidity, don't you think? The photo itself reminds me of a faded memory, evoking that sense of old Europe, perhaps even of fortunes being made or lost within those walls. Look how Stiehm frames the composition. I imagine the stock exchange rising from the water like some kind of financial leviathan. Are we looking at progress, or just another form of organized chaos? Editor: Financial leviathan… I love that! I hadn’t really thought about the symbolism in the reflection, but now it seems so obvious. Do you think the boats have any particular significance, or are they simply part of the cityscape? Curator: Hmmm… possibly both! Perhaps the boats, so small and seemingly inconsequential beneath that magnificent structure, are metaphors for individual investors navigating the unpredictable currents of the stock market? The boats bring a tactile human element to it. Editor: That's a great reading. It also adds another layer to that idea of progress and chaos. Curator: Yes, progress for some meant potential drowning for others! Thinking about this piece has me wondering what Stiehm, who lived through turbulent times, really felt about all this development. Did he capture its essence, or did it capture him? Editor: A thought-provoking question. It's fascinating how much history and potential meaning can be packed into a single image. Thank you so much! Curator: My pleasure! Art is nothing if not an invitation to see the world in new ways.