Gezicht op het Ministerie van Financiën in Berlijn, Duitsland before 1877

This anonymous print shows the Ministry of Finance in Berlin. In nineteenth-century Europe, the architecture of government buildings reflected a nation’s aspirations and self-image. This print shows a structure designed to convey power and stability, but it also prompts us to consider who was included, and who was excluded, from the financial systems it represents. As an anonymous work, we might ask, whose perspective is represented here? Is it the architect, the government, or perhaps the everyday citizen? The stark, linear depiction of the building's facade invites reflection on the relationship between the individual and the state. While the building stands as a testament to German financial prowess, its aesthetic also echoes the austerity and discipline imposed upon its citizens. The absence of human figures suggests a focus on the institution rather than the people it serves. The building takes center stage, but what stories remain untold? What personal and collective experiences are etched into its walls?