Die Lesende - the reader

In the middle of Aachen city centre, you will encounter a woman who has been reading her book undisturbed for decades. The bronze sculpture Die Lesende (The Reader) was created by Wolf Ritz in 1985 and stands opposite the Mayersche bookshop. The figure sits on a stone pedestal, her gaze completely absorbed in the open page. Her calm expression invites you to pause for a moment and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. Many see her as a symbol of the power of literature to turn people into silent conversation partners. She has long since become a small but distinctive landmark in Aachen city centre.