Siegessäule in Berlijn 1875 - 1890

Editor: Here we have a gelatin-silver print entitled "Siegessäule in Berlin" by Friedrich Albert Schwartz, captured sometime between 1875 and 1890. It has this almost ghostly feel to it, doesn't it? Makes you think about memory and the past. What stories do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, it's swimming in stories! To me, this image feels almost like a stage set. The Siegessäule, or Victory Column, looms, an imposing figure frozen in time. Consider the angle Schwartz chose - a worm's eye view, amplifying its power. What sort of power, though? Think about the late 19th century and nascent nationalism. How does a monument like this speak to that fervor, do you think? Editor: Well, seeing it looming like this, you definitely get a sense of… pride, maybe even a little aggression? Like, "We built this. We won." But the soft focus kind of softens that, making it less harsh. Curator: Precisely! It’s a strange dance, isn't it? Aggression veiled by aesthetic distance. The soft focus turns cold, hard stone almost… dreamlike. Look at how the light falls – or, rather, doesn’t quite fall. Is it truly illuminating, or is it obscuring something, creating a seductive but ultimately sanitized version of history? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. It’s almost as if the photo is intentionally playing with the idea of how we remember and idealize the past, smoothing over the messy bits. Curator: Exactly! It leaves you questioning what truly triumphs—art, history, or perception itself. Editor: This makes me see beyond just a photo of a monument. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! And now perhaps we can visit a cafe? The past always seems clearer with a slice of cake.