Gezicht op de Altmarkt in Dresden 1888

This sepia-toned photograph shows the Altmarkt in Dresden, captured by Stengel & Markert. The image, printed by the Kunstverlag Streubler & Markert, freezes a moment in time, depicting the square dominated by a towering monument, likely commemorating a military victory. Consider the cultural context of late 19th and early 20th century Europe, steeped in nationalism and militarism. Monuments like this one in Dresden served as powerful symbols, reinforcing dominant ideologies. The figures gathered around the base hint at a society embracing and celebrating these symbols of power. We might ask ourselves, what narratives were being promoted and whose voices were being silenced? How did ordinary citizens navigate a landscape punctuated by such grand statements of authority? This photograph invites us to reflect on the relationship between public memory, national identity, and the stories embedded in the spaces we inhabit.