Energy and Deed Anyone looking around them as they wander around Amsterdam can't fail to notice that many of the bridges in the city are decorated with remarkable sculptures. Fine examples can be admired on the Lyceumbrug along Apollolaan. Most of these sculptures were made by Hildo Krop, who was Amsterdam's town sculptor from 1916 until 1970. Krop was inspired by industrialisation, faith in the future and traditional family values. You also see ancient Egyptian stylistic elements in his works. Two large works made by Hildo Krop adorn the two buildings that now accommodate the Berlage school on either side of P. L. Takstraat. The sculpture called De geboorte van de daad (The birth of the deed) on the left side of the street represents a woman's head and a new-born baby (softness), a man resting on his hand (doubt), a cool-headed man (a sensible mind) and a rearing horse (the climax). The man leading the horse symbolises the person who is familiar with 'the happiness of the deed'. The sculp- ture Menselijke energie (Human energy) on the right side of the street refers to trade. It shows a woman with grapes (fertility) and various figures represent- ing commerce, industry and farming. The figures gazing into the distance at the front represent the foresight that is so essential in trade. ? Retrace your steps from Henriëtte Ronnerplein to Jozef Israëlskade and turn right. Walk down to P. L. Takstraat. (10) De P. L. Takstraat In P. L. Takstraat you can clearly see how the designers aimed to create a unified work of art here. The walls of the houses, the letterboxes, the sculp tures, the cornices and even the house numbers are all fully integrated into a single undulating design. Details show with what a keen eye and great skill the various craftsmen worked on this building project. Take a look at the undersides of the balconies. They are lined with masonry; due to the different properties of stone and concrete this cost a lot of time and effort. Then there's the use of symbolism. Look up and you'll see leadcast cockerels on either side of the cornice: they symbol ise the housing association and the socialdemocrat movement. They announce the break of a new day (dageraad means daybreak), a new era, and refer to the awakened aware ness of the working classes. 11 Amster damse School (Gabriele Mer olli). De geboorte van de daad (The birth of the deed) by Hildo Kr op (Gabriele Mer olli).
Energy and Deed Anyone looking around them as they wander around Amsterdam can't fail to notice that many of the bridges in the city are decorated with remarkable sculptures. Fine examples can be admired on the Lyceumbrug along Apollolaan. Most of these sculptures were made by Hildo Krop, who was Amsterdam's town sculptor from 1916 until 1970. Krop was inspired by industrialisation, faith in the future and traditional family values. You also see ancient Egyptian stylistic elements in his works. Two large works made by Hildo Krop adorn the two buildings that now accommodate the Berlage school on either side of P. L. Takstraat. The sculpture called De geboorte van de daad (The birth of the deed) on the left side of the street represents a woman's head and a new-born baby (softness), a man resting on his hand (doubt), a cool-headed man (a sensible mind) and a rearing horse (the climax). The man leading the horse symbolises the person who is familiar with 'the happiness of the deed'. The sculp- ture Menselijke energie (Human energy) on the right side of the street refers to trade. It shows a woman with grapes (fertility) and various figures represent- ing commerce, industry and farming. The figures gazing into the distance at the front represent the foresight that is so essential in trade. ? Retrace your steps from Henriëtte Ronnerplein to Jozef Israëlskade and turn right. Walk down to P. L. Takstraat. (10) De P. L. Takstraat In P. L. Takstraat you can clearly see how the designers aimed to create a unified work of art here. The walls of the houses, the letterboxes, the sculp tures, the cornices and even the house numbers are all fully integrated into a single undulating design. Details show with what a keen eye and great skill the various craftsmen worked on this building project. Take a look at the undersides of the balconies. They are lined with masonry; due to the different properties of stone and concrete this cost a lot of time and effort. Then there's the use of symbolism. Look up and you'll see leadcast cockerels on either side of the cornice: they symbol ise the housing association and the socialdemocrat movement. They announce the break of a new day (dageraad means daybreak), a new era, and refer to the awakened aware ness of the working classes. 11 Amster damse School (Gabriele Mer olli). De geboorte van de daad (The birth of the deed) by Hildo Kr op (Gabriele Mer olli).