Dovenfleet mit Katharinenkirche 1893

Curator: Right now we’re looking at "Dovenfleet mit Katharinenkirche" created by Fritz Stoltenberg in 1893. It's an ink drawing of a cityscape. What strikes you most about this image? Editor: There's such an incredible calm in this image, despite it being a city scene. It’s the stillness of the water, the way everything seems to reflect itself. I feel a hushed intimacy with the scene. Curator: The drawing does capture a moment of stillness in what must have been a busy port city. Stoltenberg's Hamburg was rapidly industrializing, but here, he’s showing a peaceful coexistence between the old and the new. Editor: That’s so true. I hadn’t really thought of that juxtaposition, but I see it now. The industrial structures – the bridge, for example – seem almost delicate against the backdrop of the church. Curator: That bridge also suggests increasing infrastructure, but the artist still looks at this new infrastructure in connection to historic architecture and landscape. Also, note how he carefully composes the light and shadow using ink washes. The subtle gradations add depth to the architecture. Editor: Absolutely. I love how the ink captures the textures—from the brickwork on the Katharinenkirche to the reflections shimmering in the water. You know, this is a common artistic challenge that painting, unlike, for example, sculpture, has been taking care of since the Middle Ages, to present real spaces. The image evokes not just the *look* of the city, but somehow the *feel* of it too. Curator: And that feeling is carefully crafted. This area was part of massive sanitation projects and urban planning in the late 19th century. It presents a modern face to a centuries-old city. Editor: It's fascinating how art can hold so much history within its lines and shadows. Thanks to artists like Stoltenberg, we glimpse a specific moment in time, both observed and interpreted. Curator: Agreed. This artwork is a record of a transitional phase, a moment of calm before more change, beautifully rendered in ink.