Spitzhacke

Spitzhacke is a 12-meter-high steel sculpture shaped like a giant pickaxe driven into the ground at an angle. It stands near the Fulda River bank where the extended line of Wilhelmshöher Allee meets the water.

Claes Oldenburg created the sculpture in 1982 as part of documenta 7, a major international art exhibition held in Kassel. The work arrived during a period when contemporary art was reshaping urban spaces across cities.

The pickaxe shape carries meaning from the tools that rebuilt Kassel after World War II damage, connecting art directly to the city's past. This choice makes visitors think about human effort and recovery when they look at the sculpture.

The sculpture sits freely accessible along the river bank and can be viewed without restrictions. Paths run alongside the Fulda, allowing visitors to approach the work and see it from different angles.

According to artistic lore, the pickaxe sits as though thrown by the Hercules statue from distant Wilhelmshöhe Palace across the entire city into the ground. This playful concept connects two of Kassel's landmarks in a humorous way.

Location: Kassel

Inception: 1982

Creator: Claes Oldenburg

Height: 12.25 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

GPS coordinates: 51.31061,9.50316

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03