Jewish Monument (7 elements)

About this artwork.

Jewish Monument commemorates the more than 3000 Jewish Groningen residents who were killed during the Second World War. Six hands are on a plinth. Because the artist died prematurely, the seventh hand was never completed and one plinth remained empty. Each of the hands shows its own expression. The first (far left) is a clenched fist which emanates anger. Then follows a hand stretching upwards in faith. On the fifth pedestal a hand with a candelabra-shaped opening in the palm; this is the menorah: the seven-branched candlestick that’s a symbol of the Jewish people. The other three remaining hands express despair. The irregular wall of concrete blocks in the background refers to the crumbling of Judaism by the Nazi reign of terror.

The artist died on the last day of 1976; the seventh hand remained unfinished in his studio.
 
Two more works by Waskowsky are known in the city of Groningen; a freestanding sculpture at Coendershaag 1 and a sign in the church at Coehoornsingel 14. The latter is a bronze welding work on a bulkhead of wooden beams that he created for the Remonstrant community in 1967.

About the assignment.

In 1969, the Jewish Monument Foundation commissioned Eduard Waskowsky to create a memorial. The creation of the monument was accompanied by difficult mutual relationships and major financial setbacks. The original amount of 150,000 guilders (68,067 Euro) budgeted by Waskowsky increased over the years to more than six tonnes (272,268 Euro). Because progress was very slow, in 1971 a judge ruled in summary proceedings instituted by the client that the enlargement of the model had to be done by the sculptor Jan Goossen. Because Goossen's approach differed from Waskowsky's own technical process, the artist then instituted interlocutory proceedings to prevent Goossen from continuing with the work. But Waskowsky also lost this case.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Eduard Waskowsky

• District
  Helpman

• Year of creation
  1975

• Art type
  Monument, Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Messing, Welding bronze

• Dimensions
  h divers, max. 5,00 m; 7 sokkels: h 1,50 x b 1,50 x d 0,70 m