Motherhood

František Draškovič / 1954 – 1956

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.


Authorship

Co-authorship


Years

  • 1954 – 1956 – implementation

Type

Material

stone, sandstone

Technique

carving

Dimensions

unidentified

Inscription

lower right corner: F. DRAŠKOVIČ

Condition

  • preserved
Surface dirt, visible dark deposits.

Registration

  • unidentified

Owner

  • Owners' association

Administrator

  • Owners' association

Address

Hollého 13

Location details

at the southern end of the west façade of the building

Plot number

8529

GPS

48.1468940, 17.1146980

Other works in the area

Hotel Kyjev Deconstructed

Lousy Auber 2018

Fountain by the Ministry

Eva Trachtová 1968 – 1971

Drama and Ballet

František Draškovič 1953

Slovak National Uprising Memorial

Ján Kulich 1974