Sculpted in bronze, Heinrich Heine sits before you. He appears relaxed yet poised for action. The Heinrich Heine Sculpture captures his complex personality. It portrays him as a fighter, a poet, and a sufferer. This sculpture is one of two in Berlin, both created by Waldemar Grzimek. The other resides in Volkspark am Weinbergsweg. This particular casting, however, has a unique history. It stands near Humboldt-Universität, a location initially intended for the first cast in 1956. The original placement sparked a heated debate. Officials desired a more “representative” depiction of Heine, the great singer of the German Vormärz. Grzimek’s portrayal, they felt, didn’t align with their vision. Art institutions fiercely defended the sculpture. Gustav Seitz, a founding member of the Akademie der Künste, called the criticisms “slander.” The dispute led to the first cast’s exile to the Weinbergsweg park. Decades later, in 1998, a new debate ignited. The idea to place a copy at the originally intended location resurfaced. Concerns arose about “healing history” by duplicating the artwork. Yet, in 2002, this cast finally found its home here. Look closely at the bronze relief encircling the base. It depicts scenes from Heine’s life and work. The inscription on the front reads: “We do not seize an idea, but the idea seizes us and enslaves us and whips us into the arena, so that we fight for it like forced gladiators.” Heinrich Heine, born in Düsseldorf in 1797 and died in Paris in 1856. His words and image, captured in bronze, continue to provoke and inspire.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in