Four couples in love, a baby and an old man are shown as bronze figures surrounding a fountain in the centre of Zagreb.
The sculpture, whose life-size statues are evocative of Rodin’s work, shows movement and continuum of the cycle of life. Paired human figures are embracing the well, the source of life with joy and carelessness, driven by love, life’s greatest mystery and its ultimate purpose.
The central figure in Meštrović’s masterpiece is the old man at the end of his life who is contemplating the accumulated water (the life he lived) with regret.
Ivan Meštrović, the most renowned Croatian sculptor and one of the world’s greatest sculptors of the 20th century, created his “Well of Life” (Zdenac života in Croatian) while still a student in 1905. In 1912 the sculpture was placed on the square before the building of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb where it still stands.
This post is my response to guest challenge themed “symbolism” and hosted by Madhu. Please see her post and join her for this exciting challenge. Happy Thursday everyone!
Click on the links bellow to see the entries for this challenge:
Yeah, you don’t get free nor this time… 😀
It will pop up when you are sweet sleeping the sleep of the innocents sleep later this evening or early night… 😉
Hello Draco 🙂 Normally, here you can see all forthcoming challenges https://bopaula.wordpress.com/scheduled-challenges/ This Sunday I have a guest blogger participating and his theme is perspective and anti-perspective shown in two shots. Would you be willing to host a challenge (B&W or colour) some time this year. All you have to do is to come up with the theme and shots and let it be published on my blog?
I’ll give it some thought. The hard part is guessing what weeks I will be posting.
You know I’m taking more and more time off from blogging. It’s May, and I’ve only done 12 posts (i.e. 6 weeks of blogging) so far.
I know Draco, and I am sorry you can’t spend more time on blog. I hope that it can change for you and that the reason gor your scarce appearance is not boredom.
I agree. I guess that for many (most?) people it’s a symbol of love, but since I know a little bit about the brutality behind it, I see through the ‘happy Bollywood story’-BS.
So, for me it’s a bit of both.
Just fantastic presentation of one of the most iconic, recognizable and unique sculptures in Zagreb. I dare say “Well of Life” is for Zagreb what Lady Liberty is for New York, Eiffel Tower for Paris and Big Ben for London. Any other sculpture or landmark from Zagreb can easily be misplaced in any other European city but not the Well of Life. If you ever visit Zagreb try to find it, sit around it, throw a coin in it and make a wish.
Yes! Rodin said about Mestrovic that he is “greatest phenomenon amongst the sculptors of the world”, and he even posed to him for his portrait in Mestrovic’s studio in Rome. It was a mutual admiration 🙂
Hello Jalal 🙂 I am very happy that you have seen this post. You are right about the universal message. So lovely to see your comment. Best wishes to you and your family.
Excellent post. Sculpture is an art that I have long wished that I had a natural gift for. I have always loved it, especially Renaissance and Beaux Arts bronze work. It is so expressive.
love it.. love art and culture
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Thanks, Jeff!
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A fantastic choice for the theme of symbolism Paula! Your photos do justice to that amazing sculpture. Love the close-ups. And the accompaniment! 🙂
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Thank you, Madhu. The accompaniment is typical Croatian a cappella singing. The song’s title is “I fell in love with you”.
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It’s beautiful!
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I love your close up images, Paula. The faces are so expressive.
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Ivan Meštrović was a remarkable sculptor. Thank you, Debbie 🙂
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Molto significativo. Bellissimo.
Grazie Paula, più tardi ti mando il mio contributo…
Baci
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Grazie cara Anna. I look forward to your entry.
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Nice post. I like the close-ups.
Here is mine:
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/04/thursdays-special-symbolism.html
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I’ve only seen it from outside. This is a terrific entry for this challenge, Klara. Thank you.
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A fine interpretation. Especially moving is the old man gazing into the water – his reflected life – so many layers of meaning captured here, Paula.
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Glad to know you like it, Tish.
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Thanks to expand my horizons, didn’t know this very talented croatian sculptor… 🙂
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Entirely my pleasure, Drake 🙂
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Shall I expect a “symbolic” post from you? 😀
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Yeah, you don’t get free nor this time… 😀
It will pop up when you are sweet sleeping the sleep of the innocents sleep later this evening or early night… 😉
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Yeahhhhhh 🙂
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‘hehe’ – one sleep too many, probably it was me who was sleeping… 😀
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🙂
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I had my nap, and still no entry from you? 😀
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Ivan Meštrović was a remarkable sculptor indeed! Thank you for sharing this beautiful art and music with us Paula.
Stor *KLEM* to you ❤
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Klem to you Dina xx
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A very interesting artwork. There’s a lot of emotion in the eyes and face of the man looking into the water.
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Yes! Thank you for looking at the post dear Dragon 🙂
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No problem. Do you have a theme for this Sunday?
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Hello Draco 🙂 Normally, here you can see all forthcoming challenges https://bopaula.wordpress.com/scheduled-challenges/ This Sunday I have a guest blogger participating and his theme is perspective and anti-perspective shown in two shots. Would you be willing to host a challenge (B&W or colour) some time this year. All you have to do is to come up with the theme and shots and let it be published on my blog?
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I’ll give it some thought. The hard part is guessing what weeks I will be posting.
You know I’m taking more and more time off from blogging. It’s May, and I’ve only done 12 posts (i.e. 6 weeks of blogging) so far.
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I know Draco, and I am sorry you can’t spend more time on blog. I hope that it can change for you and that the reason gor your scarce appearance is not boredom.
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Excellent shots Paula and a nice challenge by Madhu. I love the symbolism with the old man looking in the water.
Here’s my symbolism post, but is a symbol of love or slavery?
https://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/taj-mahal-hindustan/
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😀 It’s difficult to answer that one CG. I like your post 🙂
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I agree. I guess that for many (most?) people it’s a symbol of love, but since I know a little bit about the brutality behind it, I see through the ‘happy Bollywood story’-BS.
So, for me it’s a bit of both.
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Love & brutality goes hand in hand. Romance has never tasted sweeter 😀
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Sounds like an advertisement for a BS movie 😀
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Hehe. I’d love to see that movie!
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Wow, that’s beautiful.
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Thank you. I’m pleased you like it.
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Touching choices, Paula from the fountain and water to the expressions and human relationships. Lovely choice.
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🙂 So happy you like it, Lisa.
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i’m grateful to have
experienced this piece
here 🙂
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How nice of you 🙂 Thank you very much for your visit.
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A beautiful and amazing sculpture, Paula, and perfect for “symbolism.” 🙂
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Thanks Linda. I am happy when I manage to show some of the unique pieces of art in my town, This one is really outstanding.
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I’ve just posted my contribution…
The Duomo of Milan as a symbol of the Expo 2015 , starting tomorrow!
Bye , Paula!
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Inspiring structure 🙂 Thank you very much for your contribution, Anna.
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Just fantastic presentation of one of the most iconic, recognizable and unique sculptures in Zagreb. I dare say “Well of Life” is for Zagreb what Lady Liberty is for New York, Eiffel Tower for Paris and Big Ben for London. Any other sculpture or landmark from Zagreb can easily be misplaced in any other European city but not the Well of Life. If you ever visit Zagreb try to find it, sit around it, throw a coin in it and make a wish.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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A deeply moving sculpture – how sad to live a life and then feel regret at the end. Here’s my contribution to the challenge http://artifactsandfictions.com/2015/05/01/catharsis/
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Thank you very much, Suzanne. I’m glad that the artist in you could appreciate this outstanding work.
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Yes, it is finely carved and so emotive. A profound work.
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Thank you again for your “Catharsis” Suzanne. I like everything about it – the landscape, composition, colour.
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Thanks again Paula. Madhu’s prompt stimulated my imagination
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So interesting and evocative. Love this
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Wouldn’t it be great if you could visit some day? 🙂
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a beauty of a sculpture – and to think he was a student when he made it?
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Yes! Rodin said about Mestrovic that he is “greatest phenomenon amongst the sculptors of the world”, and he even posed to him for his portrait in Mestrovic’s studio in Rome. It was a mutual admiration 🙂
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how cool…..
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A beautiful series of the whole sculpture, details and setting. And another thing I missed in Zagreb! Thank you.
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Next time I’ll show you around.
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This is a remarkable masterpiece
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Yes, it is. I am glad you visited my blog and discovered it. 🙂
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Super that he was driving and keep typing
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This is a knockout sculpture. I love the symbolism and the way the bronze is gleaming from the touch of many hands.
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So glad you like it Hilary. Did you have a chance to see some of Mestrovic’s work before?
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What a fabulous sculpture! I so want to stroke it! 🙂
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Mestrovic was one of the world’s greatest sculptors of the 20th century, and this is one of his earliest works.
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Unique post ,a universal message. Best regards.
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Hello Jalal 🙂 I am very happy that you have seen this post. You are right about the universal message. So lovely to see your comment. Best wishes to you and your family.
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Wishing you the same Paula.
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Excellent post. Sculpture is an art that I have long wished that I had a natural gift for. I have always loved it, especially Renaissance and Beaux Arts bronze work. It is so expressive.
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That’s a thing we have in common, Allan. Of all the visual art, sculpture is my favourite.
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