A symbol of resilience stands before you. This is Maja.
Maja is a bronze sculpture. It was created by Gerhard Marcks in 1942. The Nazis deemed Marcks a degenerate artist. They destroyed many of his works. Maja miraculously survived.
This powerful sculpture embodies survival. It reflects Marcks’s spirit. His spirit was unbroken despite Nazi persecution. Marcks even taught at the Bauhaus. This famous school was a target of the Nazi regime. The Nazis fired Marcks for defending a Jewish student.
The Nazis held exhibitions. One showcased art they approved of. Another displayed art they condemned as degenerate. Marcks’s work was included in this latter exhibition. His sculptures were considered too expressive. They did not conform to the Nazi ideal of German art.
After the war Marcks continued his work. He rebuilt his life. He relocated his studio to Berlin. His studio was destroyed by a bomb in 1943. But Maja survived.
This Maja you see today is not the original. It’s one of several casts. It’s a testament to Marcks’s talent. It is also a potent reminder of history.
Maja was displayed in Philadelphia for decades. Then it was moved. It was in storage for years. Finally it found a new home. It’s now in a park named after it. This park is on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The sculpture’s journey is fascinating. It speaks of artistic perseverance. It speaks of survival against adversity. It reflects the enduring power of art. It reminds us of the importance of protecting artistic expression even during difficult times. Let Maja’s story resonate with you.