The theme of the mother, or motherhood, was popular within art of socialist realism of the second half of the 20th century. The figure of the mother became a symbol with various meanings – peace, but also struggle, and sorrow for the victims of war. Mothers were a central pillar of the new socialist society.
In the 1950s, František Draškovič created in Bratislava numerous sculptures associated with the façades of buildings (such as the sculptures representing drama and ballet on the Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Theatre building).
House No. 13 on the corner of Špitálska and Hollého Streets was built between 1952 and 1954 according to a project by the architects Miloš Chorvát and Rudolf Miňovský.
The sculpture at the southern end of the west façade of the building represents a happy young woman, a mother with a small child.
The artist mounted the scene on a stone slab, its border projecting from the smooth surface of the façade. A woman in a long sleeveless dress stands on a square pedestal. Depicted en face, in slight contrapposto with her left leg forward, she calmly raises a small naked child in front of her head.
The sculpture combines the classical iconographic scheme of motherhood (mother and child) with realistic rendering of the figures and an expression of their mutual joy.
ZZ
Research status as of 30. 06. 2023.