The thumb, which was cast in bronze in several editions in different sizes, is based on an original in orange-red polyester of 41 cm in height from 1965.
The occasion for this work, according to César, was an invitation from his gallerist Claude Bernard to participate in an exhibition on the theme of “hand”.
The authentic thumb of César himself was molded into the present sculpture.
Associations with the famous thumb gesture of the Roman general Gaius Julius Cesar are, according to the artist, quite desirable.
Versions of the thumb made of different materials in various sizes were set up at documenta IV in Kassel in 1968.
The Koblenz thumb was cast by Bocquel in the early 1970s for the fourth bronze version.
This version was followed by two more individual pieces, a six-meter-high thumb for the city of Seoul and a twelve-meter-high specimen for the La Défense office district in Paris.
As I stated in a previous photo, Koblenz has many statues that are quite unique.
It seems the city is known for a good sense of humor and fun and it is reflected in their statues.