Landing 

Karl Ballenberger made this sketch, titled 'Landing', using graphite on paper. The image depicts an architectural space, possibly a stairwell or entrance hall, with Gothic arches and stone construction. Ballenberger was working in Germany at a time when there was a rise of interest in medieval architecture and a revival of Gothic styles. This was tied to a growing sense of German national identity and a romanticized view of the past. The rediscovery of the Middle Ages provided a sense of cultural and historical continuity for the emerging nation-state. It is important to consider that architectural drawings like 'Landing' weren't simply neutral records. They reflected particular aesthetic and cultural values, and they played a role in shaping how people understood and experienced the built environment. To better understand this work we can look at architectural treatises and pattern books that were circulating at the time. These help reveal the social meanings of certain architectural styles.