Female Rock at the Middelheim Museum, Antwerp

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Fritz Wotruba, born on April 23, 1907 in Vienna, was a prominent Austrian sculptor of Czecho-Hungarian descent. He is considered one of the most notable sculptors of the 20th century in Austria. In his work, he increasingly eliminates figurative elements in favor of geometrical abstraction with the cube as the primary form. From 1921 to 1925, Wotruba trained as an engraver, working under Josef Schantin's guidance at his engraving and die-cutting workshop in Vienna. In 1926, he attended the arts and trades school affiliated with the Austrian Museum of Art and Industry, taking evening courses on nude drawing. That fall, he enrolled in sculpting studies at the same school, where Anton Hanak was his instructor. During this time, Wotruba received a stipend from the Vienna Society of Modern Art, the Austrian Chamber of Labor, and the city of Vienna. This financial support was arranged by Anna Mahler, who was both his pupil and lover. In 1933, Wotruba established a studio beneath the Metro Rail Tracks in Vienna. Canetti describes this workspace as consisting of two large vaults that supported the rail trestle; one vault housed figures that obstructed his work, while he preferred to work in the open space during favorable weather conditions. Wotruba continued to reside with his widowed mother and younger sister at their ancestral home in 31 Florianigasse until he fled Austria after the Anschluss and Hitler's rise to power. He relocated to Switzerland for the duration of World War II. His most notable work, on which he worked tirelessly until his death, was designing the Church of the Holy Trinity in Mauer, Vienna, also known as Wotruba Church. Unfortunately, he did not live to see its completion in 1976. Many of his statues can be found in public parks throughout Vienna, while The Lying Adolescent is showcased at the Albertina. Upon Hitler's ascent to power, Wotruba escaped to Switzerland. Several of his sculptures were either lost or destroyed during World War II. In recognition of his contributions to art, Wotruba received the City of Vienna Prize for Visual Arts in 1947 and the Grand Austrian State Prize for Visual Arts in 1955. Fritz Wotruba is buried on the Central Cemetery in Vienna, Austria.