The author examines the aesthetic effect and iconology of the materials earth and stone. The comparison between American Land Art and German Nature Art shows how deeply the artists are rooted in the philosophical and scientific traditions of their countries. The perception of the Earth as a whole is preceded by the view from space. In response to this, around 1968, the Earthworkers emerged and initiated a new artistic direction. While artists in the USA reacted to the technological achievements of the moon landing with their desert projects, viewing the Earth as a self-destructing total organism, German artists took a more limited approach.