Trinkt, trinkt, trinkt. That’s what the inscription says on the Herrenbrunnen here in Karlsruhe. But does the water stink? Let’s dive into the tale of this quirky fountain.
The Herrenbrunnen is more than just a fountain. It’s a piece of art with a message. It stands at the corner of Kaiserstraße and Herrenstraße.
Jürgen Goertz, a former student of the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, created it. He was a student of Professor Wilhelm Loth. Goertz designed the Herrenbrunnen with his own unique style, full of wit and humor.
The “Herr” or mister in the Herrenbrunnen is a “Clochard”. That is a bum in German. He sits on what looks like a garbage can. With big eyes, he watches people passing by.
Goertz said in 1981 that everything he designed had a purpose. The man, the can, the garbage, the dirt, the water, and the drinking motto. It’s all a conscious sign of joy, fear, and desire for life.
The Herrenbrunnen was built in 1978. The city inaugurated it on September 15, 1978. The Herrenbrunnen is made of bronze, gold leaf, and plastic. The city of Karlsruhe owns it. The Herrenbrunnen is about 240 cm tall, 120 cm wide and 120 cm deep.
Look closely at the figure on the Herrenbrunnen. A not-so-trustworthy man sits on a overflowing barrel. All sorts of junk spills out between the lid and the edge of the barrel. Gloves, fish, and sleeping women.
It makes you wonder if the water flowing from inside the barrel is really drinking water. The saying around it makes you think. “Drink, drink, drink, as long as the water doesn’t stink.”
Since July 2024, the Herrenbrunnen is dismantled. The city is redesigning the Kaiserstraße. Before its reinstallation, they will restore it. So soon the Herrenbrunnen will return.
The Herrenbrunnen offers a moment to pause and reflect. It reminds us to find joy in the everyday. Even in the midst of the not so beautiful things. It encourages us to appreciate life with all its flavors.