Socha Muž práce

The "Muž práce" sculpture ("Man of Labor") is a bronze statue created by Ladislav Šaloun in 1908, standing in a small park in Hořice — a town known for generations as a center of stonemasonry and granite sculpture. The statue depicts a workman and is one of the recognizable symbols of the town.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

"Muž práce" stands near the junction of Komenského and Husova streets in Hořice, right next to the 1892 monument of Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius). Together, the two works form a small but meaningful cluster of monuments in this part of town, an easy stop for anyone exploring the center on foot. In the same small park stands another sculpture, "Kristus v zahradě Getsemanské" ("Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane"), turning the spot into a compact walking route dedicated to local art and history.

Who created it, and when?

The sculpture was made by Ladislav Šaloun (1870–1946), one of the most important Czech sculptors of the turn of the 20th century, best known for the famous Jan Hus Monument on Prague's Old Town Square. He completed "Muž práce" in 1908, originally titling the work "Ze dne ke dni" ("From Day to Day"). The model for the figure was a stonemason who happened to be working on the street below the window of Šaloun's studio in Prague's Vinohrady district — giving the piece an unusually direct, observational origin.

What does the statue depict and symbolize?

The monument portrays a workman and symbolizes the physical toil of labor in stone quarries — a theme with obvious resonance in Hořice, a town whose economy and identity have for decades been built around granite quarrying and stonecarving. The town is home to a dedicated stonemasonry and sculpture school, and local craftsmen have produced monuments for towns across the wider region for generations. Placing a sculpture honoring physical labor in stone in a town defined by that very craft carried an added symbolic weight — a tribute from the artist to the skill of local stonemasons.

Why is it considered one of Hořice's symbols?

"Muž práce" is counted alongside other well-known works by Ladislav Šaloun connected to Hořice as one of the town's recognizable symbols. Šaloun grew fond of Hořice and collaborated with the town repeatedly, producing works in the local granite that is prized across the Czech Republic for its quality and durability. Alongside "Muž práce," one of Hořice's other famous sculptures is the figure of Krakonoš in Smetanovy sady park — an almost lifelike statue holding children in its hand, a popular stop for families.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Walking along Komenského and Husova streets, it's worth pairing a visit to "Muž práce" with the nearby Comenius monument and the "Kristus v zahradě Getsemanské" sculpture — all three stand within the same small area and together form a compact walking route. Hořice as a whole rewards a longer stroll: the town regularly hosts sculpture symposiums, and the granite works produced there can be spotted throughout its public spaces.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the "Muž práce" sculpture? Ladislav Šaloun, the Czech sculptor best known for the Jan Hus Monument in Prague, completed it in 1908.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In a small park at the junction of Komenského and Husova streets in Hořice, next to the monument of Jan Amos Komenský.

What does the statue depict? A workman — it symbolizes the physical toil of labor, including the work of stonemasons, a craft that has defined Hořice for generations.

What was the sculpture's original title? "Ze dne ke dni" ("From Day to Day") — Šaloun later renamed it "Muž práce."

Are there other notable statues or monuments nearby? Yes — the 1892 Comenius monument and the "Kristus v zahradě Getsemanské" sculpture stand right beside it, and the figure of Krakonoš can be seen in Hořice's Smetanovy sady park.