De slapende

De slapende is a bronze sculpture by Judith Pfaeltzer on Utrecht’s tree-lined Maliebaan. An elongated figure seems to sink into a rectangular block. Polished bronze marks the upper form, while the lower surface carries a rough texture. The horizontal shape suggests a body lying between weight and weightlessness.

Pfaeltzer created the work in 1988 as part of Utrecht’s public art along the avenue. Bronze gives the sculpture a durable presence outdoors. The Maliebaan collection brings together works by female artists in a setting of trees and historic houses. The avenue began as a seventeenth-century playing field for students before becoming a residential street.

Light changes across the polished figure and rough block as the weather shifts. The smooth surface catches reflections that the textured bronze leaves behind. From different angles, the human presence appears to merge further into the heavy geometric form.