Gezicht op de Petruskerk te Berlijn, door een blikseminslag verwoest 1740 - 1774

This print, of unknown authorship, captures a scene of devastation in Berlin. The medium is etching, a process by which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The image depicts the aftermath of a lightning strike that destroyed the St. Peter's Church. As a mode of production, etching allowed for the relatively quick and economical reproduction of images, making it ideal for disseminating news and information in early modern Europe. The stark black lines create a sense of immediacy and drama, emphasizing the chaotic destruction of the built environment. Consider the labor involved in both the depicted destruction and the creation of the print itself. The etching process required skilled craftsmanship, while the destruction of the church highlights the vulnerability of human-made structures to natural forces. This print underscores how materiality, making, and context are crucial to understanding the full resonance of an artwork, moving beyond traditional art historical boundaries.