The Monument of Shevchenko, Bronze monument in Shevchenko Garden, Kharkiv, Ukraine
The Monument to Shevchenko is a bronze sculpture in Shevchenko Garden, Kharkiv, Ukraine, created by Matvey Genrikhovich Manizer. A central figure of the poet rises above a group of sixteen smaller bronze forms arranged in a circle around the base, connected through gestures and postures.
Manizer completed this work in 1935, when the Soviet Union actively erected monuments to poets and writers seen as symbols of shared cultural identity. The figures surrounding the poet draw inspiration from literary characters in his poems and stories written during the 19th century.
The secondary figures at the base show people from different backgrounds listening together to the poet's work, including farmers in simple clothes and intellectuals holding books. This arrangement reflects how his verses once reached every layer of society and remain present in public spaces today.
The monument sits at the intersection of Sumska Street and Constitution Square, easy to reach on foot or by public transport. The site remains open all day, and daylight shows the details of the bronze figures most clearly.
The faces of the bronze figures carry individual traits and differ clearly from one another, as if they posed for living models. Their clothing and accessories follow precisely the dress and garments of the 19th century and help identify their social backgrounds.
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