Gezicht op het Venusbassin in de Großer Tiergarten, Berlijn. In de verte de Siegessäule 1878 - 1902

Johann Friedrich Stiehm made this stereo card of the Venusbassin in Berlin's Tiergarten sometime in the late 19th century. These cards became popular in the mid-1800s, offering a kind of virtual tourism to those who couldn't travel easily. The image presents a neatly ordered view of the park, with a classical statue as its focal point. The Tiergarten itself was transformed from a royal hunting ground into a public park, reflecting changing social values and access to leisure spaces. By the time this photograph was taken, the Siegessäule was erected. The statue, the pond, and the distant monument speak to Berlin's evolving identity as a modern capital, looking both to classical ideals and military prowess. To fully understand this image, we might delve into Berlin's urban development during this period, exploring how public spaces were designed and used, and the political messages they conveyed. Archives, period guidebooks, and historical societies would offer a richer understanding of this carefully constructed scene.