Fritz Wotruba facts for kids

Church "of the Holy Trinity" in Vienna-Mauer

"Man, condemn war" (1932)

Fritz Wotruba (born April 23, 1907, in Vienna, Austria – died August 28, 1975, in Vienna) was a famous Austrian sculptor. He is known as one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century in Austria. In his art, he often moved from showing clear figures to using more abstract, geometric shapes, especially the cube as a basic form.

Early Life

Fritz Wotruba was born in Vienna in 1907. He was the youngest of eight children. His father, Adolf Wotruba, came from Bohemia and worked as a tailor's assistant. His mother, Maria Wotruba, came from Hungary and worked as a maid.

Training and Early Work

From 1921 to 1925, Fritz Wotruba trained as an engraver. He was an apprentice at a workshop in Vienna.

In the fall of 1926, he began studying sculpting at an arts and trades school. He was a student of Anton Hanak. He also received financial help from different groups in Vienna, which helped him continue his studies. One of his students, Anna Mahler, helped him get this support.

By 1933, Wotruba had a studio located under the city's Metro Rail Tracks. It had two large arched spaces. He liked to work outdoors when the weather was good. He lived with his widowed mother and youngest sister in their old home in Vienna. He stayed there until he had to leave Austria after the Anschluss, when Adolf Hitler's dictatorship took over Austria. He went to Switzerland for safety during the war.

Main Works and Achievements

One of Fritz Wotruba's most important projects was designing the Church "of the Holy Trinity" in Mauer, Vienna. This church is better known as the Wotruba Church. He worked on this project until he died in 1975. Sadly, he did not live to see the church finished in 1976.

Many of his sculptures can be seen in public parks in Vienna. For example, his sculpture called Lying Adolescent is displayed in the Albertina museum. Some of his sculptures were lost or destroyed during the Second World War.

In 1947, Wotruba received the City of Vienna Prize for Visual Arts. Later, in 1955, he was given the Grand Austrian State Prize for Visual Arts, which is a very important award in Austria.

Fritz Wotruba is buried in the Vienna Central Cemetery.

Gallery of Works

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  Man, condemn the war (Mensch, verdamme den Krieg), c. 1932; stone sculpture

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  Standing Woman (Stehende Frau), 1947; stone sculpture

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  Crouching Figure (Hockende Figur), 1950–51; bronze sculpture

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  Reclining Figure (Die Liegende), early 1950s; bronze sculpture

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  Relief, 1960; stone sculpture

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  Large Figure (Große Figur), 1965; bronze sculpture

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  Sculpture honouring Richard Wagner. 1970; bronze

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  Trinity Church (Dreifaltigkeitskirche), in Vienna-Mauer, built in 1974-76

See also

In Spanish: Fritz Wotruba para niños