COMMENTS TO MY PAGE "ART POSTCARDS WITH A RAILWAY MOTIVE"

Berlin unter Wasser

Berlin unter Wasser (Berlin Under Water) captures the scene of severe flooding in Berlin’s Friedrichstraße, one of the city’s central and iconic streets. This drawing, created in the late 19th or early 20th century, reflects the challenges Berlin faced with drainage and urban infrastructure during that period. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Berlin, like many rapidly industrializing European cities, faced challenges with stormwater drainage and urban planning. Berlin’s sandy, low-lying terrain, coupled with the expansion of paved streets and limited sewer systems, made the city prone to flash floods. Heavy rainfall would frequently lead to flooded streets, overwhelming the limited drainage systems and causing significant disruptions in busy areas like Friedrichstraße. The postcard reflects a mix of both urban romanticism and social critique. On one hand, scenes of flooding were occasionally seen as quaint or even humorous. On the other, they underscored the inadequacies in city planning and the need for a more robust sewer system and a historical reminder of the city’s struggle with urban planning challenges, a rapidly growing population, and the need for modern infrastructure. Unkown artist.

November 13th 2024

 

 
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