Gezicht op Köln 1828

Jakob Dietzler made this pencil drawing of Cologne and its surroundings in 1835. Here, the artist captures Cologne from across the Rhine, at a time of great social and institutional upheaval in the city. Ruled by France until 1815, the formerly free imperial city had been incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. As a historically Catholic city, Cologne was now under the control of a Protestant king, and the institutions of the Catholic Church were under threat. Here, Dietzler documents a picturesque view of Cologne, in which the city appears almost untouched by its changing political circumstances. But this is not necessarily a conservative image. Instead, the artist may be showing a future vision in which Cologne maintains its unique identity despite the shifting plates of European power. To understand this artwork better, look into the history of Cologne in the 19th century, and the changing relationship between the Catholic Church and the Prussian state. Only through understanding this context can we understand the image's meaning.