Cybelefontein op het Plaza de Cibeles te Madrid 1862 - 1876

Editor: This photograph by Jean Andrieu, taken between 1862 and 1876, captures the Cybele Fountain in Madrid. I’m struck by the grand scale of the sculpture, especially considering it's set within the urban environment. What do you see in this piece that stands out to you? Curator: The power of this image resides in its capturing of a mythic symbol firmly planted in an urban space. Cybele, the ancient Anatolian mother goddess, is a powerful figure – often depicted with lions, as we see here, symbolizing her dominion over nature. To see her presiding over a bustling city square speaks volumes. What feelings do the lions evoke? Editor: They definitely communicate strength and authority, a kind of untamed power harnessed by this goddess. Curator: Precisely! And think about what it meant to place such a figure in the heart of Madrid during this period. What cultural memories was the artist intending to recall? This period experienced increased archaeological explorations. There was interest in bringing ancient symbols into conversation with the modern city. What could the image communicate to the people viewing the monument at the time? Editor: I suppose it could connect them to a deeper history, almost suggesting that Madrid, too, is rooted in ancient power and endurance, like Cybele herself. It is interesting how images can mean something so different depending on time, geography, culture, and more! Curator: Absolutely. This photograph acts as a fascinating record of how cultural memory is actively shaped and reinterpreted through visual symbols.