The idea
The idea is a stone sculpture by Fritz Böhme, erected in 1980. It is also known as “Attempt at Infinite Man.” Fritz Böhme was born in Glauchau in 1948 and died in Hohndorf in 2013. He completed an apprenticeship as a stonemason and stone sculptor in 1976 and was a member of the Association of Visual Artists of the GDR from then on. Most recently, he worked as a freelance restorer near Zschopau. Other works by him can be found in the sculpture garden of the Volksbank in Innere Klosterstraße: the sculptures Earth (1979) and Pause (1982).
number: E8 von 20
title: The idea
artist: Fritz Böhme
year of creation: vor 1980
material: Sandstein, Skulptur
The sculpture consists of three human figures. The degree of accuracy in the depiction decreases within the group of figures. The sculpture is approximately two meters high. It is made entirely of sandstone, which already shows some signs of weathering due to the age of the sculpture.
The following text describes the sculpture from left to right.
The figure on the far left is completely depicted: it has a head with a face, two arms, and an upper and lower body. The figure has several distinctive features. These are now described from top to bottom. A kind of braided hairstyle can be seen on the head. The face, consisting of eyes, mouth, and nose, expresses fear in a certain way, but can also be interpreted as screaming. Below the head, the figure has a muscular upper body. The right arm is fully developed. The figure appears to be leaning on it. The left arm, on the other hand, is only hinted at and extends to just above the elbow. As with the other figures, the legs are only represented in the form of slightly worked sandstone.
The characteristics described above diminish from figure to figure. The middle figure, for example, has only half a head. No facial expressions can be discerned, as neither eyes nor a nose are present. This figure has an upper body that is just as muscular as the first figure. However, the arms are much shorter, reaching only to the upper arm area.
The third figure, on the far right, is depicted without a head. Its arms are even shorter than those of the second figure. The upper body also looks less muscular and powerful.