Reliëf op de sokkel van het ruiterstandbeeld van Frederik de Grote, Unter den Linden, Berlijn 1868 - 1870

This is a stereoscopic photograph of the relief on the pedestal of the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great, Unter den Linden, in Berlin, by Johann Friedrich Stiehm. Produced on photographic paper, the image captures a scene immortalized in stone. The relief itself is a testament to the labor-intensive process of sculpture, likely carved in marble or a similar stone. Stiehm's photograph flattens the three-dimensional sculpture, turning it into a commodity to be consumed. The photograph not only documents the statue but also becomes a symbol of Berlin, mass-produced and sold as a souvenir. In doing so, the image collapses the effort involved in both the sculptural and photographic processes. The final print on photographic paper obscures the skill required, inviting us to consider the social and economic forces at play in its creation and distribution. Ultimately, to understand this image, we need to appreciate the intertwining of materials, making, and context, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.