“Anya gyermekével” that is Mother with Child. It is more popularly known as the Szoptató anya Sculpture. This touching sculpture before you captures a universal theme. It shows motherhood in its purest form.
Hungarian sculptor Ferenc Medgyessy created the original Szoptató anya Sculpture in 1917. He cast it in bronze. His muse was his Polish partner Maria Kienich and their baby daughter.
Look closely at the Szoptató anya Sculpture. Feel the connection between mother and child. Medgyessy returned to this theme repeatedly throughout his career. He created variations in different sizes and materials. These included white and red marble plaster bronze and terracotta between 1917 and 1955.
Many versions of the Szoptató anya Sculpture found homes across Hungary. Thus the statue became both a symbol of Budapest and the countryside. This limestone version stands 1.5 meters high. It was placed here on Gellért Hill’s southern slope in 1966.
Interestingly this Szoptató anya Sculpture had to be restored after suffering severe damage. Another stone version resides in the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery. However it is not currently on display. Debrecen holds the original bronze statue. It sat in storage for decades before restoration. Now it graces a playground in the Great Forest park.
Medgyessy was closely tied to both Debrecen and Budapest. From 1910 to 1958 he worked in the Százados Street Artists’ Colony in Pest. From there he regularly sent his works to Debrecen. Another copy of the Szoptató anya Sculpture was erected in Szolnok in 1954. It was placed in front of the Hetényi Géza Hospital. Later it was moved to the institution’s courtyard.
Art historians consider “Mother with Child” a highlight of Medgyessy’s oeuvre. Many know the sculpture from a 1932 engraving. It appeared on the back of the green 1000 forint banknote issued in 1983. The banknote’s front featured a portrait of Béla Bartók. It is rare to see sculptures on Hungarian currency. This was the first in the forint system.
Here on Gellért Hill the Szoptató anya Sculpture offers more than just an artistic statement. It embodies the essence of maternal love and nurturing. The Szoptató anya Sculpture is a simple yet powerful reminder of the bond between mother and child. It reflects the artist’s deep affection for his family. It also highlights the universal importance of motherhood. Take a moment to appreciate this timeless depiction of love and care.