Standbeeld van Baron van Stein in Berlijn 1877

This is a photograph of the Baron vom Stein Memorial in Berlin, made by Sophus Williams in 1877. The image allows us to consider the public role of monuments in the 19th century. Considered a national hero, Stein was a Prussian statesman who helped to modernize the country in the early 1800s. The monument itself, with its classical allusions, creates meaning through visual codes of power and authority. As photography democratized image-making, it also allowed for wide dissemination of cultural symbols. The image may have served to instill a sense of national pride and collective identity among the citizens of Berlin. By examining the archives of the Berlin City Museum, we can better understand the social and political context in which this photograph was made and circulated. Understanding the intent and the reception reveals the monument's role in shaping public opinion.