Berlin Stock Exchange 1930

Anton Schutz made this etching of the Berlin Stock Exchange sometime in the first half of the 20th century. It depicts the Exchange as a monumental building, using the visual codes of classical architecture, with its rows of columns and roofline sculptures. In its day, the Stock Exchange was more than just a building; it was a powerful social and economic institution. Schutz's image presents it as a stately, even unshakeable presence within the cityscape. The Exchange's location on the river Spree also invites contemplation. Rivers, like the Exchange, are conduits: in one case of goods, in the other of capital. The ships in the foreground also invite viewers to consider the role of trade and transportation in the city's economic life. Understanding the social conditions in which Schutz made this print requires us to research the history of Berlin and the political forces that shaped its development.