In 1928, Grossberg exhibited several works at the 'Kunst und Technik' (Art and Technology) exhibition in Berlin, organised by his gallery owner, Karl Nierendorf. This resulted in a commission from Berlin: an engineer from Berliner Städtische Elektrizitätswerke AG (Berlin Municipal Electric Works, BEWAG), Dr Martin Rehmer, commissioned him to document the construction of a new power station in the west of the capital. However, due to the global economic crisis, construction work dragged on until 1931, and Grossberg received a lower fee than expected. Nevertheless, the BEWAG Portfolio, consisting of 12 lithographs, was produced and printed in a limited edition of 100 copies in November 1931.
As with his first commission in 1924 from the Würzburg-based printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer, Grossberg first produced pencil drawings, which he then transferred to lithographs. With their impressive precision and rich nuances, these sheets are hardly distinguishable from photographs. And of course, even though he was regularly on site, Grossberg relied on photographs. The portfolio shows the construction site at the start of work, during construction, insights into the machine halls and the site after completion.
- Location & Dating
- 1929
- Material & Technique
- Bleistift auf Papier
- Dimensions
- 37,7 x 48 cm
- Museum
- Galerie Michael Hasenclever, München
- Inventory number
- X26.011