A Monument to Franz Kafka
It took almost eighty years for a monument to Franz Kafka to be set up in Prague. It was not until 2003, on the occasion of his 120th birthday, that a bronze statue, more than three metres high, was unveiled. The inspiration for award-winning Czech sculptor Jaroslav Róna’s statue came from reading Kafka’s Description of a Struggle. Since then, in the immediate vicinity of the Spanish Synagogue, a figure of Kafka has ridden on an armless and bodyless male form, which is suspected to represent Kafka’s father Hermann. Hundred of Kafka enthusiasts, many of whom were dressed in black coats, suits, and hats, attended the unveiling of the monument.
It is thanks to Kafka, almost satirically, that the Prague which came to an end with him will still not be buried with him…
Johannes Urzidil, There Goes Kafka
