Here stands Die Windsbraut, a bronze sculpture. What secrets does this abstract form hold? Let me tell you a tale of winds, art, and a sculptor’s journey.
Die Windsbraut translates to “The Bride of the Wind”. It’s a fitting name for this piece by Hans Martin Ruwoldt. Ruwoldt created this sculpture in 1968. It stands near the Binnenalster.
In mythology, a “Windsbraut” can mean swirling winds. It can also refer to a woman with a wild spirit. Ruwoldt’s Windsbraut captures this essence. The sculpture depicts a body being wrecked. Its form is abstract. It’s not immediately clear what it is. It seems caught in a dance. Its outlines blur.
Ruwoldt doesn’t present a stylized female form. Instead, he conveys the fleeting impression of unrestrained movement. This movement sweeps everything along with it.
Hans Martin Ruwoldt was born in Hamburg in 1891. He studied sculpture in Hamburg. He later led the sculpture class at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg. He died in Hamburg in 1969.
After the trauma of World War II, Ruwoldt focused on animals in his art. Sometimes they were very figurative. Other times they were more abstract. Die Windsbraut stands apart. It is different in theme and execution from his other post-war works.
During the Third Reich, Ruwoldt’s abstract works were not tolerated. During this time, his commissioned sculptures were mainly representational. Common motifs were predators like panthers, tigers, and eagles.
Die Windsbraut marks a departure. It reflects a shift in Ruwoldt’s artistic focus near the end of his life. It invites us to contemplate the power of nature. It encourages us to consider the human form in motion. It also reminds us of the changing artistic landscape in post-war Germany.
Standing here before Die Windsbraut we see more than bronze. We see a story of Hamburg. We see the evolution of an artist. We feel the wildness of the wind.