Statue of Jiří Wolker in Prostějov

The Statue of Jiří Wolker is a five-metre stone monument to one of the leading Czech poets of the twentieth century, standing in a small park in his native Prostějov, Moravia. The sculpture shows a young man in period dress holding a book, and for more than seventy years it has served as one of the town's key markers of memory for the poet who was born and died there.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The monument sits in a small green square at Emanuel Husserl Square (náměstí Edmunda Husserla), across from a building that once housed a vocational school. It's a quiet spot slightly off the main tourist routes through central Prostějov, on the street that shares the philosopher's name.

Who created it, and when?

The monument was created by academic sculptor Antonín Kalvoda (1907–1974), a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts who was born in Šlapanice. His design won a public competition announced by the Prostějov city council in 1949; out of forty submitted proposals, the jury shortlisted six for further consideration. Kalvoda then spent three years working on the piece, carving the travertine block in a workshop in Blansko, where it was finished in March 1952. The statue was formally unveiled on 9 November 1952, with a large turnout of local residents.

What does the statue look like?

The centrepiece is a larger-than-life figure of a young man in period costume, holding a book — a direct reference to Wolker's work as a poet. The figure stands on a square-sectioned pedestal that tapers upward and ends in a simple cornice slab. The front of the pedestal bears the inscription "JIŘÍ WOLKER" along with a relief of a linden branch, a tree long tied to Czech national symbolism. Including the pedestal, the whole monument reaches a height of five metres.

What protected status does it have?

The statue has been listed as a movable cultural monument since 1958, and since 1990 it has stood within Prostějov's heritage protection zone — confirming its standing as one of the town's more significant pieces of public art.

Who was Jiří Wolker?

Jiří Wolker (1900–1924) was born and died in Prostějov, the town most closely tied to his short life, even though he studied law in Prague. He is regarded as one of the leading voices of Czech proletarian poetry in the early 1920s, known above all for the collections "Host do domu" (1921) and "Těžká hodina" (1922). He died at just twenty-three, leaving behind a body of work that remains part of the Czech literary canon.

What should visitors know before going?

The statue stands away from Prostějov's main square (náměstí T. G. Masaryka), in a quieter, green corner of town — a stop more likely to appeal to visitors interested in literary history than a typical sightseeing checkpoint. It's worth knowing that the town has a second, much newer statue of the poet as well: a figure of Wolker seated on a bench, unveiled in a different part of town in 2018. When looking for this particular 1952 stone monument, the Emanuel Husserl Square address is the one to head for.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jiří Wolker? A Czech poet born and died in Prostějov (1900–1924), regarded as one of the leading figures of Czech proletarian poetry.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In a small park at Emanuel Husserl Square in Prostějov, facing a former vocational school building.

Who created the statue? Academic sculptor Antonín Kalvoda, whose design won a public competition held in 1949.

When was it unveiled? On 9 November 1952.

What is it made of, and how tall is it? A block of travertine; including the pedestal, the monument stands five metres tall.

Is this the only statue of Wolker in Prostějov? No — the town also has a newer statue from 2018, showing the poet seated on a bench.