Bremen Town Musicians, Bronze sculpture in Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee, United States
The Bremen Town Musicians is a bronze sculpture showing four animals stacked vertically: a donkey at the base, with a dog, cat, and rooster balanced above. The figures are rendered in a simple style, with notable details including the cat's curved spine and minimalist eyes throughout the composition.
German artist Gerhard Marcks created this work in 1951, basing it on the Brothers Grimm tale of the same name. The sculpture emerged during the post-war period and eventually came to the United States, forming a bridge between European artistic tradition and American cultural spaces.
The sculpture tells the story of four aging animals who leave their homes to start fresh together somewhere new. Today it represents cooperation and the courage to seek a better life, resonating with visitors who grew up knowing this tale.
The sculpture is displayed outdoors on the lawn at Lynden Sculpture Garden alongside numerous other art installations. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the garden invites walking and exploring, especially on pleasant days.
Although the original remains in Germany, Marcks created multiple bronze casts of this work that were distributed to different locations worldwide. The Milwaukee version is one of these castings, showing how European artworks found their way into American collections and gained fresh meaning in new settings.
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