The Angela Merkel and Barack Obama at the G7 Summit meme originated from a photograph taken by Michael Kappeler during the 2015 summit in the Bavarian Alps. The image captures German Chancellor Angela Merkel standing with her arms outstretched in a dramatic gesture while U.S. President Barack Obama sits relaxed on a wooden bench against a breathtaking mountain backdrop. While the actual conversation was about international policy, the internet quickly transformed the photo into a versatile template for grand storytelling and expressing frustration to an indifferent listener. Its cinematic quality and the clear contrast between Merkel's expressive energy and Obama's composure have made it a staple of political and everyday humor for years.