Memorial to Emperor Wilhelm I. of Germany in Bernburg 1901

This memorial to Emperor Wilhelm I in Bernburg, by Ludwig Manzel, is cast in bronze or a similar metal, so the mark-making is about modelling and casting, rather than brushstrokes, but that's a process too, right? The whole thing sits on a multi-tiered plinth that gives the impression of the past bearing down on us. The figure of Wilhelm is smooth and idealized, very different from the rough texture of the horse beneath him. Look at the way the light catches the horse’s mane, how the details are sharp and defined, almost like a photograph. It’s a compelling contrast that gives the sculpture a real sense of presence. It reminds me a little of some of the Soviet-era monuments, but with a distinctly Prussian feel. Ultimately, this is sculpture that asks us to question how we understand power, memory and how artists use materials to tell stories.