La demeure humaine Sculpture

Why did Ossip Zadkine create a sculpture that looks like a giant, metallic game of pick-up sticks? Right here, before the De Nederlandsche Bank, stands La demeure humaine. This bronze behemoth, crafted between 1963 and 1964, isn’t just abstract art. La demeure humaine translates to “The Human Habitat”. Zadkine designed this third version of the sculpture specifically for this location. He envisioned it interacting with the bank’s long, horizontal facade. He wanted to disrupt the monotony and add a touch of human creativity to the imposing structure. Originally, La demeure humaine perched precariously on a console eight meters high on the Frederiksplein facade. Imagine it there, looming over the bustling square. Sadly, Zadkine passed away in 1967 before the building was even finished, let alone seeing his work fully installed. As a tribute, the bank unveiled the sculpture just days after his death. It later moved to a spot between two of the bank’s towers before finding its current home at the Westeinde entrance in 1990. Now it stands proudly on a bronze table, a testament to Zadkine’s vision. Even its travels are a story. In 2009, La demeure humaine hit the road for the ArtZuid sculpture route. A team meticulously transported the massive artwork, even tapping out a dent acquired during the move. They placed it on Apollolaan, where it remained until 2011. Not everyone appreciated Zadkine’s unique style. Artist Jan Wolkers, Zadkine’s own student, famously quipped that La demeure humaine looked like “a bunch of broken chocolate letters”. Yet, this “bunch of broken letters” speaks volumes. Look closely. See the tangled bronze beams, some curved, some straight, forming a massive, abstract house. Notice the two tiny figures perched atop this metallic dwelling. Zadkine’s social commentary shines through. He seems to be saying something about the overwhelming scale of modern architecture and the sometimes-forgotten human element within these grand designs. He may be poking fun at our “dwelling machines”. It’s a humorous, yet poignant, observation of our human habitat.