Kapel in het Berliner Stadtschloss, Berlijn

Johann Friedrich Stiehm captured this stereoscopic view of the chapel in the Berlin City Palace. Dominating the apse is the crucifix, emblem of sacrifice and redemption, a symbol deeply rooted in Christian theology. The cross, once a symbol of Roman oppression, was transformed through Christ's Passion into a beacon of hope. This motif is hardly unique to this chapel. From Romanesque frescoes to Renaissance altarpieces, the image of the crucifixion has served as a focal point for devotion and contemplation. Consider the ancient Roman practice of affixing notices to walls – the 'alba' – a precursor to our modern billboards. Here, within the architecture of the chapel, we see similar panels; now adorned with religious imagery, these recall the human impulse to record and remember. The cyclical nature of symbols, like the cross, shows their endurance and adaptation across time. They evolve, accruing layers of meaning that speak to our shared cultural memory.