Sigrid Fridman, “Kentauren”, 1930, Bronze,  Observatorielunden, Stockholm

Considered one of her most famous works, “Kentauren” by Sigrid Fridman was placed on a hill in 1939 at the northeast corner of the observatory. It depicts the centaur Keiron, son of Chronos, tightening his bow.

In 1927, Fridman created a sculpture of Fredrika Bremer, the Swedish writer and feminist reformer.  This sculpture caused controversy about whether a woman should be engaged as a serious sculptor. When Fridman proposed her Centaur statue in 1928, his debate continued, with many male colleagues taking the position that women should only sculpt children’s portraits or small pieces that depicted femininity.

Completed in 1939, angry controversy surrounded the bronze centaur as well, with many complaining that the figure was not culturally sensitive as centaurs were not part of the national folklore. However, Sigrid Fridman continued her work; her sculptures are in many public spaces in Sweden. Her last work, “The Dripping Tree” was installed in 1963 near the city library of Odengatan the year after her death at the age of eighty four.