Building site of I. G. Farben c. 1928 - 1930

Curator: Looking at this piece, titled "Building site of I. G. Farben," created circa 1928-1930 and currently residing here at the Städel Museum, I'm immediately struck by the muted color palette and the unsettling sense of perspective. Editor: There's a feeling of oppression and impending doom, even without knowing the historical context. The colored pencils, chalk and pastel mediums used on paper seem to soften the scene, yet fail to disguise the harsh industrial elements. It definitely speaks to the alienating experience of industrialisation and forced labor. Curator: Exactly. I think it's vital to unpack the significance of the I.G. Farben building project. This was, of course, the future headquarters of a massive chemical conglomerate deeply implicated in the Holocaust during World War II. This drawing can be considered in light of complicity and corporate power. Editor: So, even though the drawing doesn’t directly depict the atrocities, its power resides in this looming premonition? This scene of frenetic activity, seemingly disconnected workers and haphazard tracks... What's being built isn’t progress or civilisation, but infrastructure for oppression. The workers here appear dehumanized, almost faceless, lost amidst this chaotic construction site. Are they representative of the marginalized laborers used to build the future? Curator: Absolutely. We must acknowledge how architectural spaces and landscapes are deeply connected to the exertion of social, economic, and political power. This drawing encapsulates a moment in time pregnant with historical weight. Editor: I hadn't thought about that. It is a powerful image because it captures the underlying ideologies of the I.G. Farben project. Thank you for shedding light on this dark side of progress, highlighting a crucial piece of history and power.