Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Original Title) 

Karl Ballenberger rendered "Rothenburg ob der Tauber" in delicate pencil strokes, capturing the medieval gate with precision. Ballenberger, who lived from 1801 to 1860, situated himself in the transition between the romantic and realist movements, using this particular work to depict an idealized version of the medieval world. This drawing invites us to think about how identity is constructed through architecture and landscape. The very stone and structure of Rothenburg speak to a past steeped in tradition and order, yet also one of exclusion and defense. The towers and walls, meant to protect, also served to divide. What did it mean to belong, and who was kept outside? Consider the emotional weight of such a place. It can evoke nostalgia for a time long gone, while it silently reminds us of the barriers erected between people. It's a powerful reflection of our ongoing negotiation between belonging and exclusion.