Observed from here, doesn’t the sculpture “Und ewig schleppt die Frau” seem to capture a quintessential slice of Hamburg life? This bronze artwork by Gerhard Brandes stands proudly in Billstedt, right in front of the Billstedt Center. It is located in the pedestrian zone.
Gerhard Brandes created “Und ewig schleppt die Frau” in 1991. The sculpture depicts a woman hurrying through the bustling crowds. She clutches two large shopping bags.
Her posture is intriguing. It seems as if someone called out to her. Her head and upper body are turned sharply against her direction of travel. She firmly holds the heavy bags on either side of her. The twists and turns in her body create a sense of dynamic movement.
Brandes was born in Frankfurt an der Oder on July 7, 1923. He studied at the Kunsthochschule in Berlin and in Vienna. Later, he studied at the Hochschule f\u00fcr Bildende K\u00fcnste in Hamburg. There he was in the sculpture class of Edwin Scharff and Gerhard Marcks. After World War II, he settled in Hamburg-Blankenese. Brandes worked as a freelance artist from 1950. He created bronze and copper sculptures, depicting people and animals in everyday settings. Brandes received a teaching position at the Fachhochschule f\u00fcr Gestaltung in Hamburg in 1976. He died in Hamburg Gro\u00df-Flottbek on July 10, 2013.
“Und ewig schleppt die Frau” stands as a mirror to the people. It winks at passersby in the vibrant shopping area. It offers them a moment to pause and reflect.
The sculpture is located at M\u00f6llner Landstra\u00dfe 3. That’s right in the BillstedtCenter. The coordinates are 53.53982, 10.10329. It’s a piece that invites us to consider the everyday hustle and bustle. It encourages us to find a bit of humor.