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Holbeinpferd

Holbeinpferd, also called Holbeinpferdle, is the common name for a horse sculpture in Freiburg im Breisgau’s Wiehre district. Its official title is “Standing Foal in Cast Concrete.” Created in 1936 by sculptor Werner Gürtner, the sculpture is about 1.90 metres high and long and weighs roughly one ton. It belongs to the city of Freiburg. In the 1950s, it was placed on a small grassy area between Holbeinstraße, Hans-Thoma-Straße, and Günterstalstraße, near the Holbeinstraße stop on tram line 2 to Günterstal. The sculpture became well known through numerous anonymous alterations over time.

Holbeinpferd sculpture painted bright red with a white cross, standing on a concrete base in a grassy area.
The Holbeinpferd sculpture painted red with a white cross, shown outdoors in Freiburg.
June 2019 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Holbeinpferd concrete foal sculpture painted with rainbow stripes and the text \
The Holbeinpferd sculpture painted in bright rainbow stripes with the slogan \"Vielfalt gewinnt!\"
February 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Holbeinpferd sculpture painted with an orange and blue pattern on its hindquarters, standing on a surfboard-like base.
The Holbeinpferd sculpture in Freiburg, painted with a colorful abstract pattern.
January 2009 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Holbeinpferd foal sculpture stands on a concrete base in grass, with a road, parked vehicles, graffiti-covered fence, and trees behind it.
The Holbeinpferd foal sculpture stands on its base in a grassy area near a road and graffiti-covered fence.
June 2019 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Holbeinpferd concrete stall with a red rocking moose and a wooden rocking horse inside
A weathered concrete stall at the Holbeinpferd site holds a red rocking moose and a wooden rocking horse.
April 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

NameHolbeinpferd
Local nameHolbeinpferdle
Original-language nameStehendes Fohlen aus Betonguss
Typehorse sculpture
Depicted subjectfoal
Meaning of name"Little horse"; "Holbeinpferdle" uses the Alemannic diminutive ending "-le"
Nickname meaning"Holbein horse"

Historical context

Created1936

Creator

ArtistWerner Gürtner

Discovery and provenance

First ownerWalter Cordes
Subsequent ownerCity of Freiburg (Gardens Department / department responsible for environment and parks)
Model usedA foal arranged for Gürtner by Walter Cordes's veterinarian nephew
Unsigned at saleThe sculpture was still unsigned when sold in 1936

Physical characteristics

Weightabout one ton
Dimensions1.90 m high and 1.90 m long

Materials

Materialcast concrete with internal iron square-tube reinforcement
Surface treatmentpainted multiple times; later covered with layers of paint, plaster, newspaper, and wallpaper

Location and ownership

Current locationWiehre district, Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Siteat the corner of Holbeinstraße and Günterstalstraße, on a small grassy plot
OrientationFacing toward Günterstal district, at the entrance of Holbeinstraße
Nearby transitTram line 2 to Günterstal, stop Holbeinstraße
OwnershipCity of Freiburg

History and restoration

Final cleaning1997, by a stonemason firm using a pressure washer; paid for by photographer Matthias Wolpert
Future policyThe city does not intend to tolerate repainting in the future
Post-restoration repaintingIt was painted again the day after being returned, with the Danish flag
Restoration workAbout 180 kg of paint, plaster, newspaper, and wallpaper removed; paint stripped with an oscillating saw and high-pressure steam cleaner; severe damage found especially in the legs; rust removed from the internal iron reinforcement; part of the concrete removed and rejoined with epoxy; protective coating applied
Restoration20 February 2019 to 3 June 2019, at Hellstern stone masonry workshop in Freiburg; more than 80 hours; cost €6,500; paid by the Strather family and the city of Freiburg
Condition after 1997 cleaningSince then, it has accumulated layer after layer of paint and has gradually become more misshapen
Early public useChildren repeatedly rode the sculpture, prompting inspections ordered by Mayor Wolfgang Hoffmann
CleaningsThe city cleaned it in 1981, 1985, and 1987
Damage event29 March 1990: knocked off its pedestal by a car
RestorationsRestored three times in the 1980s
Painted brown againJune 1987, in accordance with Gürtner's wishes
Painted brown1954; caused widespread discontent
Artist signature addedIn the 1950s, at the request of Mayor Wolfgang Hoffmann
Installed at current site28 May 1951

Significance

Possible inspirationPossibly inspired by Manneken Pis in Brussels
Media attentionEarly 1990s postcard and photo series were published, and it was reported on TV
Decoration examplesZebra, Milka, Nivea, Uhu, political messages including the Brent Spar boycott, declarations of love, flag patterns, football and cycling jerseys, unicorns, Pegasus, the donkey from the Bremen Town Musicians, a wrapped appearance for Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Reichstag project, and the Danish flag
Decoration traditionInitially painted only at night, later also during the day; usually altered to depict a specific theme
Known forBecame well known for frequent anonymous repainting and decoration, especially since around 1980

Other

Legal statusBecause it is in public space, photographs may be commercially used under Germany's freedom of panorama rule (§ 59 UrhG)
Copyright disputeElsa Gürtner's heirs sued for disclosure of revenues from images and postcards of the sculpture; the case reached Amtsgericht Freiburg and Landgericht Mannheim in 1996-1997 (LG Mannheim, 14 February 1997, 7 S 4/96, 'Freiburger Holbein-Pferd', GRUR 1997, 364)
Court outcomeThe claim was dismissed in 1996; the Mannheim court largely upheld the lower court in 1997 but granted disclosure of revenues
Court holdingUse under § 59 UrhG does not cease because third parties altered the work, but distributing photographs after phototechnical manipulation that changes the work's actual appearance infringes exploitation rights
Photographer involvedMatthias Wolpert
Reason photographer was liableHe edited an image to make the sculpture appear to wear a St. Nicholas costume, which it never actually had