Do you see the sculpture “Kinder mit Hasen” before us? It translates to “Children with Rabbits”. This charming artwork has a fascinating story rooted in Essen’s history. The “Kinder mit Hasen” sculpture is more than just a decoration. It marks an entrance to the forest park Sommerburgtal.
Let’s delve into the details of this sculpture and its creator. The artist behind “Kinder mit Hasen” is Otto Lang. He was a painter and sculptor and also a professor at the Munich Academy. Lang even had connections to the Krupp family who were industrialists in Essen. He created a small bronze statue of Alfred Krupp. Many copies were made and gifted by the family. Lang also designed the fountain in the Alfredshof settlement.
Lang created two transitions from the garden city to the forest park Sommerburgtal. At these entrances stand stone sculptures on pedestals. They act like a gate. In the first forest entrance, you see a child with a rabbit. That’s the “Kinder mit Hasen”. In the second entrance, there are two pheasants.
Felix Schlesinger was an important genre painter of the 19th century. He focused on the display of innocent and idyllic childhood. From the 1860s on, he showed scenes of small farm children playing with animals. Motifs with children were popular and sought after internationally. They were especially popular in England and America.
The “Kinder mit Hasen” represents a theme popular in 19th-century genre painting. It shows children and animals in an idyllic scene. It highlights the sentimental depiction of rural life. The “Kinder mit Hasen” is a reminder of a time when artists focused on everyday life. They found beauty in simple moments.
Take a closer look at the “Kinder mit Hasen”. Notice the details in the sculpture. Consider the artist’s intention in creating this piece. This artwork is not just stone. It’s a gateway to both nature and art.