Urban Majesty: August Endell's Appreciation of the Less-Than-Aesthetic Cityscape
Berlin, a city known for its vibrant history and dynamic growth, has been a subject of various perceptions over the decades. Many have found the city ugly, smog-choked, and industrially harsh, even before World War II. However, August Endell, a designer, architect, and writer who lived in Berlin during its Wilhelmine boom, offers a different perspective in his essay, The Beauty of the Metropolis.
Published by the now-defunct Rixdorf Editions, The Beauty of the Metropolis is being given new life and is now available for purchase from the University of Toronto Press. The essay takes in Berlin's bustling intersections, streets teeming with working-class tenements, and jangling tram lines, painting a vivid picture of the city's urban life.
Endell's work is not a roving report on Berlin streetlife, but a meditation on aesthetics, shot through with theoretical musings and engaged in turn-of-the-century debates. He embraces the smoke, steel, and bustling activity of the city as sources of unexpected beauty and artistic inspiration, countering widespread contemporary and later views of the city as ugly and harsh.
The city of Berlin in Endell's time is characterized by a mix of old and new elements, with cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages coexisting with industrial infrastructure. The cityscape retains some familiar aspects despite having a foreign quality, perhaps due to the Kaiser's prominent presence.
Endell's work offers an insightful look into the aesthetics of the city during its Wilhelmine boom. He rejects nostalgic, rural idealization in favor of an appreciation for the vibrant modernity of the city. His work is a celebration of Berlin's unique charm amid its chaotic atmosphere, celebrating the city's dynamic, unvarnished reality rather than conventional prettiness.
Daniel Kehlmann once said that Berlin is not pretty, and one should know this beforehand. Yet, Endell's The Beauty of the Metropolis challenges this notion, offering a fresh perspective on the city's beauty that continues to resonate today. August Endell, as a founder of the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) arts movement, brings a youthful artistic movement spirit to his work, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the aesthetics of Wilhelmine Berlin.
The essay The Beauty of the Metropolis, penned by August Endell, offers a fresh perspective on the aesthetics of Wilhelmine Berlin, delving into the fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, and home-and-garden aspects of the city, as well as its entertainment scene. This work, now available for purchase from the University of Toronto Press, continues to challenge notions of Berlin's beauty, showcasing the city's unique charm amidst its chaotic atmosphere.
August Endell's The Beauty of the Metropolis also delves into theoretical debates, providing readers with insights into the arts movement Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), making it a must-read for those interested in the books documenting the aesthetics of Wilhelmine Berlin.
