Molen in park Sanssouci, Potsdam 1879

This photograph by Johann Friedrich Stiehm captures a view of the historic mill in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, in 1879. The image presents a seemingly quaint scene. However, a deeper look reveals complexities regarding power, historical narrative, and the role of the institution. The windmill was originally built in the 18th century. It gained notoriety when, as legend has it, Frederick the Great was bothered by its noisy operation. The miller supposedly refused to sell it to him, resulting in a lawsuit that the king lost. This tale promotes the image of the king as an enlightened and fair ruler. Stiehm's photograph, produced nearly a century later, subtly reinforces this constructed history. By focusing on the picturesque aesthetic of the mill, rather than the story's underlying tensions, the image upholds the park's intended image of royal benevolence and harmony. To understand such images fully, historians consult archives, royal records, and local histories. Only then can we unpack the narratives they present and the social and political agendas they subtly support.