Skulptur einer Frau Statue

Did you ever hear of a statue being given as a gift? The Skulptur einer Frau, also known as the “Jägerin” (huntress), was just such a gift. It graced the Kassbergauffahrt in Chemnitz. It stood near where the street met Hohe Straße and transitioned into Weststraße. This striking bronze sculpture was a gift from the Chemnitz Beautification Association to the city. This association, founded in the 1860s, aimed to enhance Chemnitz’s visual appeal as it grew into a major city. They focused on designing parks like the Schlossteichpromenades and installing public art. We owe them thanks for the Zipper Fountain and the decorative fountain on Geibelstraße, originally located in the Getreidemarkt. In 1912, for their 50th anniversary, the association purchased the Skulptur einer Frau, a creation of Berlin sculptor and university professor Hans Harry Liebmann. On April 24, 1913, in a simple ceremony, the larger-than-life statue was presented to Mayor Dr. Sturm. He gratefully accepted it into the city’s care. Before its permanent placement, the Skulptur einer Frau was displayed at the König-Albert-Museum during the Charles-Palmie memorial exhibition. The subject, the Roman goddess Diana or her Greek counterpart Artemis, was popular in historical art. She represented the virgin goddess of the hunt. This connection is seen in the statue’s alternate name, “Jägerin”, and the accompanying bow and quiver. Diana was also a goddess of women and fertility. The Skulptur einer Frau was considered one of the most artistically successful and perhaps most erotic depictions of this goddess, with similar sculptures appearing in many German cities. In the 1920s, Chemnitz’s fencing club even used the “Jägerin” image for a trophy in a saber fencing competition. Sadly, the Skulptur einer Frau was lost to World War II, not from direct bombing, but as part of the nationwide metal collection for the war effort. Like other monuments, it was taken away in July 1942, melted down, and a piece of Chemnitz’s beauty was gone.