Nubian Woman, Bronze statue at Rheingärtchen in Pempelfort, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Nubian Woman is a bronze sculpture depicting a female figure with a large vessel balanced on her head and her hands resting on her hips. The work stands in the Rheingärtchen, a park-like garden area with green spaces right along the river.
German-American sculptor Bernhard Sopher created this bronze work in 1925 while new artistic movements were shaping the art scene. In 1935, Sopher had to emigrate to America as the political situation in Germany became oppressive.
The sculpture depicts an African woman with a water vessel balanced on her head, a subject rarely seen in German gardens during the early 20th century. The work reflects artistic interests of that era that extended beyond Europe.
The statue sits in an open garden area at the southern edge of the Rheinterrasse and is easily accessible on foot. The best time to visit is during dry weather, when you can explore the surrounding green spaces at ease.
The sculpture represents one of the few works from that era in which non-European people became the central subject of a major public artwork. The piece raises questions about how African cultures were viewed at that time.
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