“She seems so determined,” a voice whispered behind me, breaking the silence as we stood in the shadow of the Božena Němcová Statue. “Like she’s facing down more than just the wind.” That wind, a playful zephyr today, ruffled the bronze folds of the statue’s dress, making it seem as if Božena herself was striding towards the Vltava River. Here, on Slovanský Island, this monument to the “mother of Czech prose” stands defiant yet graceful. Installed in 1955, the Božena Němcová Statue we see today was actually born from a competition, years earlier. In 1940, the Society of Božena Němcová envisioned a tribute to mark the 120th anniversary of her birth. The competition ran three times, with Karel Pokorný and Jaroslav Fragner finally winning with their dynamic portrayal. The statue’s pose, forever battling the elements, seems to echo Božena’s own struggles as a woman navigating the tumultuous currents of 19th-century Czech society. She fought for her voice to be heard and, through her timeless writing, it echoes still.
Lochkovský potok
Listen closely. Have you ever felt the hush of a hidden stream a secret whispered among the trees? That’s the