Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, Werderscher Markt, Berlijn 1868 - 1870

Curator: Let's take a look at Johann Friedrich Stiehm's photograph, "Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, Werderscher Markt, Berlin," taken between 1868 and 1870. Editor: Immediately striking! It’s incredibly still, almost desolate. The light catches the stonework beautifully, highlighting its texture. You can almost feel the grit of the street under your feet. Curator: Indeed. The photograph offers us insight into Berlin’s urban fabric at a pivotal moment. The church itself, Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, represents the architectural aspirations of the Prussian state and its attempt to merge the sacred with the civic space. The building represents the height of neoclassicism at this time. Editor: You mention the Prussian state—that stone isn’t just sitting there! The materials had to be quarried, transported, and worked by many hands. Thinking of the labor that went into erecting that edifice gives you pause. Curator: And that is crucial context. This albumen print captured a very specific view of Berlin during a period of rapid industrial expansion. It’s part of a larger project to document and celebrate the architectural achievements of the era, influencing popular perception of the capital and bolstering nationalist sentiments. Editor: Stiehm's choice of the albumen print method – so crisp, detailed, highlighting the structure’s grandeur...It underscores the aspirations of order and control in a quickly changing world. Look at the street – so stark. You see this contrast, perhaps, between ideal and reality. Curator: It’s definitely presenting an ideal! In many ways, Stiehm is using photography to construct a narrative about Berlin – a narrative about order, progress, and architectural magnificence intended for a wider audience. Editor: Well, it prompts me to consider the unseen labor shaping this constructed image. Every photograph of architecture, in my view, inherently holds evidence of its time and production methods, its politics. Curator: Looking at it this way really gives you insight to the narrative! Thanks for this deep dive. Editor: Likewise! I'll think twice now when seeing similar images and think more of materiality and time!