Gezicht op een woonhuis aan de Königgrätzer Strasse 93 in Berlijn, Duitsland before 1877

This print shows a residential building on Königgrätzer Strasse in Berlin, created by an anonymous artist, sometime in the 19th century. The Königgrätzer Strasse, now Stresemannstrasse, was known for its grand architecture. Who lived here and what was life like behind these closed curtains? This building represents more than just bricks and mortar; it is a testament to a period of rapid urbanization and industrial expansion in Berlin. The design reflects the aesthetic preferences and social values of the upper-middle class in a burgeoning metropolis. Consider the historical context: the rise of nationalism, the unification of Germany, and the increasing disparities between the wealthy and working classes. Buildings like this one acted as silent witnesses to the social dynamics of the time. They raise questions about access, privilege, and who gets to shape the narrative of a city. The personal is in the political, even in architecture.