Wertheim, Leipziger-Platz, Berlin 1921

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of Wertheim in Leipziger-Platz, Berlin, using graphite. Pennell's choice of such a readily available material speaks to his wider interest in democratizing art. The image shows a large department store that was owned by a Jewish family. The architectural detailing is intricate, but rendered here with the lightest of touches. This has the effect of monumentalizing capitalist consumption, but also suggesting its insubstantiality. It's a sketch, a fleeting impression. The drawing is a reminder that even the most imposing structures are the product of human labor, and that the value we assign to them is ultimately a social construct. Pennell invites us to consider the relationship between art, commerce, and the built environment, and to question the values that shape our world. The use of graphite, a humble material, emphasizes that artistic vision and critical thinking are available to everyone, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday life.