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The Destroyed City
De verwoeste stad · Rotterdam
public artwork by Ossip Zadkine in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (1953)
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1The Destroyed City5:13
Welcome to Plein Nineteen Forty, located in the vibrant heart of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Before we commence our detailed examination of this profound monument, I must clearly state that the historical and architectural…
Listen in the app2The Approach along the Leuvehaven4:19
As we begin our detailed walking route, let us position ourselves slightly to the south of the monument, walking slowly along the edge of the historic Leuvehaven. This approach from the water is absolutely critical to…
Listen in the app3The Pedestal and Foundation4:05
We now stand directly before the monument, bringing our focus to the crucial foundational elements of the sculpture: the pedestal and the lower extremities of the bronze casting that meet the stone. At first glance, the pedestal…
Listen in the app4The Tormented Legs and Lower Body4:03
Directing our gaze slightly upward from the granite base, we now focus our scholarly attention on the tormented legs and the massive lower torso of the bronze figure. Here, the profound influence of the Cubist and Expressionist…
Listen in the app5The Torn Torso - The Missing Heart3:53
We now arrive at the profound visual and emotional epicenter of Ossip Zadkine's masterpiece: the devastatingly torn torso and the gaping, ragged void that pierces entirely through the center of the chest. This massive hole is…
Listen in the app6The Upraised Arms and Hands3:49
Following the agonizing lines of the shattered torso upward, we encounter the dramatic, explosive climax of the figure's physical gesture: the upraised arms and the massive, reaching hands. This upward thrust is the defining…
Listen in the app7The Face - Anguish and Endurance3:49
We finally bring our scholarly focus to the apex of the monument, the agonizingly expressive face of the bronze figure. Here, Ossip Zadkine has concentrated the entire emotional weight of the tragedy into a singular, haunting…
Listen in the app8The Surrounding Rebuilt Architecture3:53
Having examined the intricate, agonizing details of the bronze figure itself, we must now step back and recontextualize the monument within the broader expanse of Plein Nineteen Forty and the dramatically rebuilt cityscape that…
Listen in the app9Closing3:31
As we conclude our comprehensive, scholarly exploration of Ossip Zadkine's masterpiece, The Destroyed City, it is crucial to take a moment to synthesize the profound emotional and historical journey we have undertaken across…
Listen in the app
What is The Destroyed City?
The Destroyed City is a place in Rotterdam with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Rotterdam |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Total length | 36 min 35 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 51.9178, 4.4831 |
| Last updated |
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