| Throughout his life, Menzel was drawn to the newly developed areas on the outskirts of the city, and his daily routes often took him past construction sites and wastelands. While the representative buildings of Berlin, redesigned by Schinkel, only casually captured his interest, many of his sketches and paintings from the 18 40s feature sandy paths, construction sites, and inconspicuous temporary structures. He frequently depicted the banks of the Schafgraben, now known as the Landwehrkanal, near his home, dedicating a print to its surreal stillness. A number of particularly dynamic pencil drawings illustrate the ruined trunks and wild branches of willows lining the water, which were also admired by outsiders. The painting Construction Site with Willows is characterized by a silvery blue-green that powerfully pushes into the foreground, compressing the spatial elements to the right and left. Starting with a milky tone and transitioning into a brown shadow zone sprinkled with light spots, it creates a clear complementary contrast with the bright red of the construction site in the background. Here, along with the yellow of the building behind, the effect of strong sunlight accumulates under the dull blue sky. Various materialities—intricate foliage and soft grass, shimmering water, and dirty sand—demand different brush techniques, which can be delicate, summarily executed, or rough. Unexpectedly, intricate human activity becomes visible in the background, further enriching the scene and highlighting Menzel's engagement with the interplay between nature and urban life. |