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Endlose Treppe (Monument für Ernst Bloch)

Endlose Treppe (meaning “Endless Steps”) is a sculpture by the Swiss artist Max Bill, created in 1991 for the philosopher Ernst Bloch. Made of North American granite, it consists of 19 winding steps that rise nearly 10 meters. According to the artist, these steps are meant to represent Bloch’s “principle of hope.” The sculpture is located near the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in the city center of Ludwigshafen am Rhein.

Endlose Treppe by Max Bill, a tall reddish-brown stone sculpture on a paved plaza with trees and a modern building behind it.
Endlose Treppe by Max Bill stands on a plaza in Dessau beneath a clear blue sky.
January 2013 © M_H.DE · CC BY 3.0
Endlose Treppe sculpture by Max Bill in an open gravel courtyard, with a plaque in the foreground and a modern white building behind it.
Endlose Treppe by Max Bill in Dessau, shown with a plaque in front of the sculpture and a modern building in the background.
March 2020 © M_H.DE · CC BY-SA 4.0
Endlose Treppe sculpture rising on a cylindrical base beside modern buildings under a clear blue sky.
Endlose Treppe in Ludwigshafen, shown here with its stacked stone form and urban surroundings.
© · Public domain
Endlose Treppe, a tall helical sculpture of stacked grey stone blocks against a blue sky.
Endlose Treppe in Ludwigshafen, shown as a twisting stack of grey stone blocks rising into the sky.
January 2006 © · Public domain
Endlose Treppe, a tall twisting gray sculpture against a blue sky, with a church spire and tree in the background.
Endlose Treppe rises vertically against the sky, with a church spire visible behind a tree in the background.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleEndlose Treppe
English titleEndless Steps
Alternative titleMonument for Ernst Bloch
TypeSculpture

Historical context

Art movementModernism
Year created1991
PurposeMade for the 100th birthday of the philosopher Ernst Bloch

Creator

ArtistMax Bill
Artist nationalitySwiss
Artist rolesArchitect, artist, and designer

Iconography and meaning

Artist's interpretationThe 19 winding granite steps represent Ernst Bloch's principle of hope
Commemorative themeErnst Bloch's Principle of Hope
Dedicated toErnst Bloch

Materials

MaterialNorth American granite

Physical characteristics

Form19 winding granite steps on a cylindrical pedestal
HeightNearly 10 meters
Visual effectThe steps are identical but appear different because of light and shadow effects

Location and ownership

Current locationIn the immediate vicinity of the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in the center of Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
Loan statusPermanent loan
LendersFriends' association of the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum e. V.; Dr. Hans Klüber Memorial Foundation; Stadtsparkasse Ludwigshafen am Rhein

History and restoration

Inscription on pedestal"die ENDLOSE TREPPE erinnert an DAS PRINZIP HOFFNUNG des Philosophen ERNST BLOCH er kam zur Welt in Ludwigshafen 8. JULI 1885 starb in Tübingen 4. AUGUST 1977 MAX BILL 1991"

Other

Person commemorated birth placeLudwigshafen
Person commemorated birth date8 July 1885
Person commemorated death placeTübingen
Person commemorated death date4 August 1977