Two cherubic figures. That’s the first thing you notice about the Puttengruppe mit zwei Hasen Statue. A boy and a girl. Closely pressed together. They sit on a rectangular limestone pedestal. Its corners are cleverly beveled. The children’s legs hang down. They are naked. The boy’s left arm is around the girl. His right hand holds her right arm. The girl wears a flower crown. Her shoulders are drawn up. Her hands are clasped in her lap. Two rabbits snuggle against their backs. This is the Puttengruppe mit zwei Hasen.
The sculptor remains unknown. We don’t even know the exact creation date. Or where this group originally stood. Maybe it was part of a fountain. Perhaps a larger park design. It certainly had strong connections to children. The use of the heavily textured shell limestone is typical of Reformkunst before World War I. The touching depiction of the putti-like children still refers to the Neo-Baroque of the 19th century. Or even to children’s depictions in Art Nouveau. Dating it around 1910 seems plausible. The material choice and the composition of the group support that. The artist likely worked in the circle of Ludwig Hoffmann. Hoffmann was the city architect from 1896 to 1924. Georg Wrba also worked a lot in the area of building and fountain sculpture.
Notice the detail. The way the children’s bodies are intertwined. Their expressions. The way the rabbits mirror their closeness. It’s a scene of innocent intimacy. A quiet moment captured in stone. Sadly the statue is incomplete. Parts of the girl’s figure are missing. This is a poignant reminder of the passage of time. Its effects on art. Even on something as seemingly indestructible as stone.
The Puttengruppe mit zwei Hasen isn’t just a pretty statue. It’s a window into Berlin’s past. It’s a testament to the artistic styles of the early 20th century. It speaks to the enduring power of childhood innocence. Next time you see this group in the park. Remember the mystery of its creator. The beauty of its design. And the enduring story it whispers. This is the Puttengruppe mit zwei Hasen. A small treasure within the city’s grand history.