Bauersfrau und Teufel, Bronze sculpture group at Lousberg, Germany
Bauersfrau und Teufel is a bronze sculpture group on the Lousberg in Aachen, set on a cobblestone surface at the end of Kupferstraße. The seated devil, with horns, leans back on a draped cloth, one hand to his head and the other gripping his leg; a tool lies beside him. A woman in a long skirt, headscarf and apron stands holding a sack. A metal plaque with the legend's text is set into the ground in front of them.
The sculpture was created in 1985 and draws from a medieval tale about the devil's failed attempt to bury Aachen under sand. This ancient story connects to the physical geography of the Lousberg and was translated into a contemporary artwork.
The sculpture tells a story rooted in local tradition about how a clever farmer's wife outsmarted the devil. This tale remains woven into how locals understand their landscape and its landmarks.
The sculpture stands at the end of Kupferstraße on a mountain saddle and is accessible via multiple walking trails from surrounding areas. Its position at the intersection of streets makes it easy to reach from different directions.
The devil originally had two thumbs, contradicting the Aachen cathedral legend in which his thumb caught in the Wolfstür door handle. Unknown people sawed one off at night; it was never found and the police closed the investigation. The artist, Krista Löneke-Kemmerling, admitted the error and simply sealed the cut.
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