Elbbrucke 1893

Fritz Stoltenberg made this drawing of the Elbbrucke using pen and ink, a traditional method of representation on paper. The drawing shows the Elbbrucke bridge with elaborate gothic-inspired architecture, towers and arches, and a crisscrossing steel framework extending over the Elbe river. Although traditional drawing techniques were used, the artist made a thoroughly modern subject the focus of the drawing. The subject is the bridge, a marvel of engineering, constructed during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Europe. Bridges like the Elbbrucke required the extraction of raw materials, the labor of skilled and unskilled workers, and complex manufacturing processes. Stoltenberg’s drawing emphasizes the intricate detail of the bridge, highlighting both the craftsmanship and the industrial processes involved in its creation. This juxtaposition challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider the social and economic context in which the artwork was made.