Building site of I. G. Farben 1928

Pauline Kowarzik made this work, 'Building site of I. G. Farben,' with chalk. I love how the chalk has been layered, scumbled, and rubbed into the paper to create a misty effect; you can almost smell the earth. What I find super interesting is the perspective. Kowarzik's vantage point is from above, looking down at the construction site. What was she thinking? Did she have some kind of office or lookout up high where she could observe the workers, machinery, and materials below? There is something about the geometry of the buildings and the lines of the train tracks that feel oddly satisfying. The pastel is lightly applied, a sketch of what she sees. I see this drawing as part of an ongoing conversation about how we represent the world around us—a conversation that echoes through time. Kowarzik may have been looking at the work of others. The workers are all men, which speaks to the way that women were often excluded from these environments. It's beautiful to consider the endless possibilities of painting and how each artist brings their unique perspective and contributes to the ever-evolving dialogue.