Ever wondered how a statue could survive a war and multiple relocations? The story of the Jüngling mit Fisch statue is a tale of art, resilience, and unexpected journeys. This bronze figure shows a naked boy kneeling on a pedestal. He proudly holds a fish in his left hand. The fish spouts water. In his right hand he holds a net.
Hans Latt created this artwork. The Martin & Piltzing foundry cast it around 1925. Originally called “Knabe mit Fisch,” the Jüngling mit Fisch was placed at the entrance of Stadtpark Lichtenberg in 1933. It stood in a small, round water basin on Kielblockstraße.
During World War II, the bronze statue was meant to be melted down. But the city park’s gardeners saved it. This act of preservation ensured the Jüngling mit Fisch would live on.
In 1955, the statue found a new home. It was moved to a small green space at the corner of Frankfurter Allee and Möllendorffstraße. Frankfurter Allee was known as Stalinallee from 1949 to 1962. Möllendorffstraße was called Jacques-Duclos-Straße from 1976 to 1990. Here, the Jüngling mit Fisch stood in a roughly 10-meter basin made of artificial stone. Twelve circular fountains surrounded its stone pedestal.
The fountain was restored in 1970. Then, in 1981, construction on Frankfurter Allee led to its temporary removal. But it was rebuilt in 1982. In 1997, Jürgen Seiler’s art foundry in Schöneiche bei Berlin restored it one last time.
In 2018 and 2019, Howoge’s construction work caused the statue to be removed again. Currently, the fountain is being restored by Kunstschmied Bernd M. Helmich. According to Howoge’s plans, the fountain will be reinstalled in a shallow water basin in the second quarter of 2021. It will be part of a new building complex.
The Jüngling mit Fisch, marked with “H LATT” on its plinth, has moved several times. It faced destruction but survived. Its story reflects the changing cityscape of Berlin. It also shows the dedication of those who valued its artistic and cultural significance. So next time you see the Jüngling mit Fisch, remember its journey. Remember the gardeners who saved it and the artists who restored it. They ensured this artwork continues to delight for years to come.