Der Rufer: A Call for Peace

Located on Straße des 17. Juni in Berlin's Tiergarten, Der Rufer is a compelling bronze sculpture created by Gerhard Marcks in 1967. The sculpture portrays a figure with hands raised to its mouth, seemingly calling out, and has become a symbol of communication, human connection, and a plea for peace. Installed in May 1989, just months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the statue's placement was deliberate, facing East Berlin as a call for reunification. The inscription at the base features a quote from the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch: "I wander through the world, and cry 'Peace, peace, peace'". While the Berlin statue is interpreted as a call for peace, other castings around the world, such as the one in Perth, Australia, are dedicated to victims of torture. Gerhard Marcks (1889-1981) was one of Germany's most important twentieth-century sculptors. The original sculpture was commissioned for Radio Bremen. Der Rufer invites contemplation on the importance of voice, freedom, and expression, set against the backdrop of Berlin's complex history.