Kortum-Brunnen

The Jobsiade-Brunnen stands on Husemannplatz in Bochum. It was donated by the Deutsche Bank and unveiled in 1987. The fountain’s design draws on a scene from Carl Arnold Kortum’s Jobsiade. Five bronze figures represent the story: the confident but clueless theology student Jobs, three examiners, and a night watchman. In 2013 the group was vandalised with white paint, and in 2018 one figure was coated in gold. The work is worth seeing for its lively narrative and bold craftsmanship. Karl Ulrich Nuss created the figures to capture the humour and irony of the original text. The scene shows the examiners’ stern faces and the night watchman’s quiet amusement. The contrast between the figures’ expressions makes the scene memorable. The fountain’s placement in a public square lets passers-by pause and reflect on the story. Visitors find the bronze group arranged around the water feature on Husemannplatz. The figures stand at human scale, so their gestures and postures are easy to read. The surrounding square offers benches and paving stones for a closer look. The fountain’s water adds movement and sound to the scene. The square itself is a small green space in the city centre, making the artwork a quiet spot amid Bochum’s streets.