Freedom Monument


latvian

The idea of this monument, situated on the border of the Old Riga and the new city is very simple and really deep at the same time "To Fatherland and Freedom".

The author of this monument is Kārlis Zāle (1888-1942), a well-known and genius Latvian sculptor, who gained his education at Kazan Art School (Russia), later as the first of the Latvians studied at the Academy of Arts in St.Petersburg, but in the 20-ties he lived in Berlin where the representatives of modern art gathered. Ernests Shtalbergs is the architect.

After returning to Latvia in 1922, K.Zāle started work on several projects: Freedom Monument, the Common Grave Ensemble, monument at Sudrabkalninsh (in Riga). Besides, he was a professor at the Academy of Arts in Riga.

Freedom Monument consists of several sculptural groups symbolizing different values - Labor, Strength of the Nation, Spiritual Strength, Freedom, Family; relief on the lowest block represents historical events; the central statue of Mother Latvia and the Liberty statue - a woman with three stars symbolizing regional parts of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale.


ailab

Latvian culture

The information of the Center of Monument Documentation is used
© Everita Milchonoka - text
© Una Shneidere - photo