Five women stand before you. They are the Ziegelschupferinnen. This statue is a tribute. It honors the women bricklayers of Vienna.
These aren’t just any women. These are the women who built. They built around 3000 homes. These homes are in Vienna’s 12th district Rosenhügel. They built them in the 1920s. Imagine the backbreaking work. The sweat the dust the sheer physical effort.
The Ziegelschupferinnen statue shows their strength. It shows their resilience. Each figure is life-sized. They are carved from stone. The sculptor Oskar Höfinger created them in 1985. He wanted to remember these women. He wanted to memorialize their contribution to Vienna.
The municipality of Vienna financed the project. The women themselves contributed 1500 to 2000 hours of work. The houses they built were raffled off. It was a cooperative. This fostered a sense of community. A smart idea for the times.
Look closely at the figures. Notice their expressions. They show a mix of pride and determination. They convey the spirit of those women. They worked tirelessly. They built not only houses but a community. This is the lasting legacy of the Ziegelschupferinnen. This statue ensures they are remembered. Their work is remembered. Their story is told again and again.
The Ziegelschupferinnen statue isn’t just a monument. It’s a symbol. It symbolizes the strength of women. It is a symbol of community. It’s a reminder of a time when women contributed significantly to Vienna. Take a moment to appreciate their contribution. Let this statue inspire you.