Mölkerbastei
1909
Signed at the bottom right, this 1909 artwork by Franz Poledne transports us to a freezing morning at Vienna's Mölkerbastei. The old fortification walls are buried under heavy snow, creating a slippery obstacle course for horse-drawn carriages and a weary-looking man tackling the drifts with a shovel. Poledne was a master of documenting the 'Alt-Wien' (Old Vienna) atmosphere, capturing the cozy, bustling street life just before these historic structures were demolished to make way for the modern university district. It’s a nostalgic, highly detailed snapshot of a city on the brink of major urban change.
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