Building site of I. G. Farben 

Pauline Kowarzik made this drawing of the I. G. Farben building site with graphite and colored pencil. Kowarzik has captured a moment of immense material transformation. Here, we see raw, earthy hills being excavated to make way for new construction. The drawing’s subdued palette—dominated by browns, grays, and muted greens—reflects the gritty reality of industrial labor. Notice the parallel lines of the railway tracks, the stacks of timber, and the plumes of smoke rising from the locomotives. These elements emphasize the scale of the project, but also the human labor required to realize it. This was not just any building site; I. G. Farben was a massive chemical conglomerate deeply entangled with the Nazi regime. This work offers a glimpse into the physical labor involved in constructing a site of immense historical and ethical complexity, reminding us that materials, making, and context are crucial to fully understand an artwork’s meaning.