Reste der 1914 abgerissenen Alten Brücke in Frankfurt am Main 20 - 1915

Editor: This pencil and etching drawing is titled "Reste der 1914 abgerissenen Alten Brücke in Frankfurt am Main," or "Remains of the Old Bridge in Frankfurt am Main, Demolished in 1914," created in 1915 by Andreas Bernhard Söhngen. There’s a real melancholic feeling to this depiction of a fragmented bridge, standing partially submerged in the river. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is the historical context. Söhngen created this image during the First World War. It portrays the remnants of a demolished bridge, not due to wartime damage, but urban development. This demolition and rendering of the 'old' invites the viewers to consider what the city chooses to remember, and more importantly, how such memories can serve different socio-political purposes. The fact it was made during the war gives it even deeper layers of meaning. It speaks volumes about the era’s anxieties surrounding change, progress and even destruction. Does that resonate with you? Editor: Absolutely! The timing adds so much. It is more than just an architectural study; it is almost a commentary on societal upheaval. I hadn't considered how even urban planning choices can reflect larger political currents. Curator: Precisely. The public role of art is often to engage with these complex narratives. The choice to depict something lost or in ruins offers a powerful statement about progress and tradition. Do you think it sentimentalizes the past or critiques the present? Editor: That is a tricky question! Maybe both? There is a beauty in the ruin that hints at sentimentality, but also a starkness that makes one question the cost of modernization. This has made me rethink how seemingly simple landscapes can be potent historical documents. Curator: Indeed. It demonstrates how visual culture, including something like a cityscape drawing, functions as a site where history, memory, and power converge. Thank you, I feel I see it differently now too.