Berlin Liegesalles 

Paul Paeschke created this print, "Berlin Liegesalles," during a period of significant social change in Germany. Paeschke invites us into a public space filled with people. It is hard not to read gender and class into this image. The figures are abstracted, yet their clothing subtly hints at their social standing. Notice the hats that many of the figures wear. Hats were a sign of status and respectability during this time. The park itself, with its manicured trees and classical statue, speaks to a desire for order and tradition. Paeschke was part of the Berlin Secession, a group of artists who broke away from the traditional art establishment to explore new forms of expression. This work reflects that sentiment of change. Though his style appears traditional, he uses etching to hint at the fleeting moments of modern life. Paeschke's print serves as a lens through which to examine the intersection of public life, personal identity, and social expectations in early 20th-century Berlin. We are left to consider who has access to these spaces, and what they seek there.