Statue of Jiří Mahen

The Statue of Jiří Mahen stands in a small, tree-shaded park on Rooseveltova Street in Brno, just behind the former Governor's Palace (Místodržitelský palác), facing towards the Janáček Theatre. It's a modest, understated tribute to one of the leading figures of Czech literary modernism and a long-serving director of Brno's municipal library.

Who was Jiří Mahen?

Jiří Mahen was the pen name of Antonín Vančura (1882-1939), a Czech writer, poet, playwright, and journalist who became one of the central figures of Brno's cultural life in the first half of the 20th century. For many years he headed Brno's municipal library, modernizing its operations and turning it into one of the city's key cultural institutions. That same library still carries his name today - Knihovna Jiřího Mahena v Brně (the Jiří Mahen Library in Brno) - a sign of how lasting a mark he left on the city as a librarian, not only as a writer. He died in 1939, in the days immediately following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.

What does the statue look like?

The statue is a life-size bronze portrait figure showing Mahen in a relaxed, informal pose. The sculpture rests on a low, square pedestal of polished grey granite. Its simple, quiet form and intimate scale let it blend into the park setting rather than dominate it - a fitting choice, perhaps, for a figure remembered as a librarian and man of letters rather than a soldier or statesman.

Who created the statue, and when?

Three sculptors worked on the monument. Vladimír Koštoval authored the original design in 1971, and Otakar Oplatek and Vilém Zavřel collaborated on its execution. The statue itself was unveiled in 1976, five years after the initial concept was created. Its origin is likely connected to the broader decoration of the nearby Janáček Theatre and its surroundings, an area that was being extensively developed and adorned with sculptures and small architectural features around that time.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The statue stands in a park located between the former Governor's Palace and Rooseveltova Street, in the Brno-město district, right next to the Janáček Theatre, one of the city's main opera venues. The park's dense tree cover means the statue is easy to miss for passers-by hurrying toward the theatre, even though it sits in the very center of Brno, just a short walk from the city's main attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Is the statue open to visitors? Yes, it stands in a publicly accessible park and can be visited freely at any time of day.

Why is the statue easy to overlook? It stands in the shade of park trees, away from the main pedestrian routes connecting central Brno to the Janáček Theatre, so it's easy to walk past without noticing it.

Are there other places in Brno connected to Jiří Mahen? Yes, Brno's municipal library (Knihovna Jiřího Mahena) carries his name - the same library he led for the better part of his professional career as its long-serving director.

Who designed the statue? The original 1971 design was created by sculptor Vladimír Koštoval, with Otakar Oplatek and Vilém Zavřel assisting on the work that was unveiled in 1976.