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Kamala Harris and Jennifer Lopez at the inauguration ceremony (with Harris' predecessor Mike Pence): A moment between two powerful women
Photo: Kevin Dietsch / imago images / ZUMA Wire
Many millions of people watched Biden's inauguration broadcast live yesterday and saw an event that made it clear that this may truly be the day that a new era will dawn for the United States.
Important sentences were said, but - in the long term and as so often - the pictures will be remembered more.
For example, the sight of the young poet, Amanda Gorman, who, while reading her poem, looked like poetry herself, who wore a sun-yellow coat, who blinked at the real sun and seemed so confident at the same time.
An American ray of hope.
Judge Barrett as a living memorial of the Trump era
But also a completely different moment - before the actual ceremony started and the guests arrived.
That was when the camera caught Amy Coney Barrett, the newest judge on the country's Supreme Court, standing alone and almost lost in the wind.
At least she was wearing a mask.
She, who was called so late in Trump's tenure and was a downright triumph for him, seemed even more than his Vice President Mike Pence yesterday to be a symbol of a completely different kind: that many would like to forget who ruled the past few years .
However, Barrett will stay, will make important decisions, will help shape the future America, which is also why it was important to see her yesterday, to understand that Trump is gone, but not over yet.
But of course there was a spirit of optimism, albeit an almost modest one by American standards;
in places the atmosphere seemed almost melancholy.
America should not be jolted, but rather a wave of emotion.
However, one of the most important pictures that captured this mood was not seen on television, but on Instagram.
Maya Harris, the sister of the first vice-president, had posted it that morning: It is a private photo, which in this way, through this publication, becomes part of the great American family album.
"Miss mom this morning"
On the old recording, she and her big sister Kamala are still little girls, their mother Shyamala Gopalan is holding them both by their hands.
The comment by Maya Harris: "Miss mom this morning".
Gopalan came from India to study in the USA at the age of 19, she became a successful biomedical scientist and the most important role model for her daughters, whom she raised mostly alone.
Anyone who looks around on Twitter and Instagram receives a few impressions that did not appear in the broadcast.
Kamala Harris' stepson Cole Emhoff filmed his sister Ella, who was hanging on the smartphone before the beginning of the ceremony and excitedly following who else was coming.
Jennifer Lopez, in turn, published an almost historical snapshot on her website, taken by one of the photographers present.
Kamala Harris, the most powerful politician in the country, looks up at Lopez with a smile and folded hands;
through the image section that she posted, it seems like the suggestion of a knee fall.
The pop star herself brought another unforgettable moment to the world audience: Lopez sang the medley "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful" - and when she briefly switched to Spanish and evoked the unity of the nation, it rose from warning to threatening to euphoric the index finger.
Joe Biden gave the speech that many believe America needs.
But otherwise it was a women's day, that of Captain Andrea Hall, who communicated the oath of allegiance so impressively in sign language, every gesture a commitment in itself;
In particular, of course, that of Harris, who with her enormous presence, with her radiant blended family at her side, ensured many good memories.
Maybe she wanted the audience to think that they were now - somehow - members of this family too.
In any case, Hillary Clinton was adopted immediately: one of Harris's great nieces sought her close and took her by the hand.
There is also a photo of it.
Both Clintons, in turn, stood next to the poet Amanda Gorman for a souvenir snapshot.
What an inauguration.
Not overly pompous, although a star like Lady Gaga of course knew the opportunity to use the stage: Shortly before, she tweeted a photo of her giant brooch, a pigeon with an olive branch in its beak, the day before, she posted a picture of under the capitol dome;
may the following day, she wrote, be one of love, not of hate.
As a backdrop, the Capitol was certainly perceived very differently from previous broadcasts of this kind. On January 6, the onslaught of fanatical Trump supporters had turned the seat of Congress into a place where the country acted out its lower political instincts.
Now he was, so to speak, cleansed of it, rehabilitated.
America, the land of great emotions and pathetic images, came back to itself.
Pete Buttigieg, Biden's future Secretary of Transportation, shared a photo of himself and his husband.
A selfie, taken after the festive hour, with the Capitol in the background.
His comment: "It was an unforgettable and historic day."
