Relief of Queen Louise, Berlin Possibly 1886 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz captured this photograph of a relief dedicated to Queen Louise of Prussia. Queen Louise, who died in 1810, became a figure of national mourning and eventually, a symbol of German identity during the Napoleonic era. The relief shows Queen Louise at the center, surrounded by figures embodying virtues and idealized representations of her role as a mother and queen. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, monuments like these were integral to constructing national identity and reinforcing gendered ideals of womanhood and leadership. Stieglitz, as a photographer, engages with this historical and cultural context by framing the relief in a way that invites reflection on its symbolic weight. The photograph's gray tones and partial view evoke a sense of reverence, but also distance, prompting us to consider the complex relationship between historical memory, national identity, and the representation of women in public life.