Statue of Franz Kafka

On your right is the Statue of Franz Kafka, an imposing dark bronze sculpture featuring a smaller man sitting casually astride the shoulders of a massive, headless empty suit. Installed here on Vězeňská street in the Jewish Quarter in December 2003, this piece by artist Jaroslav Róna perfectly captures the surreal mind of Prague's famous author. We are just a short walk from St. James Basilica which we saw earlier, but we are in a completely different artistic world. The statue sits near the Spanish Synagogue, and if you are wondering why Kafka is catching a ride on a decapitated giant, it is a direct nod to his 1912 short story, Description of a Struggle. In that tale, the narrator literally leaps onto the shoulders of an acquaintance to navigate the streets. It is classic Kafka, deeply strange, slightly unsettling, and oddly practical. Looking up at the dark metal, you sense the psychological weight and absurdity that defined his writing. It is a fittingly bizarre tribute to a unique mind. Take a moment to enjoy this strange sight, and whenever you are ready, we will make our way toward the Stalin Monument.