[Railroad tracks near harbor, Lübeck] c. 1940s - 1950s

Editor: This photograph, attributed to Laurence Feininger, captures railroad tracks near the harbor in Lübeck. It's a small print, only a few centimeters, but the stark black and white tones create a really strong sense of distance. What strikes you when you look at this image? Curator: It’s a fascinating image of industrialization encroaching on a medieval cityscape. Those tracks, the cranes—they speak to the rapid changes reshaping Europe at the time. Who benefited, and who was displaced by this new world order? What do you make of the contrast between the harbor and those church spires? Editor: That’s a great point, the contrast is really powerful! It highlights the shift from religious power to industrial might, maybe? Curator: Precisely. And considering Feininger's Bauhaus connections, we might also ask what the photo says about the social role of art and artists in this changing landscape. Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered it that way. I’ll definitely look at this piece differently now. Curator: Hopefully, we all will.