Havis Amanda

Statue Helsinki, Finland

Havis Amanda is a nude female statue in Helsinki. It was sculpted by Ville Vallgren (1855-1940) in 1906 in Paris, but was not erected at its present location in the Market Square at Kaartinkaupunki until 1908. Havis Amanda is one of Vallgren's Parisian Art Nouveau works. It is cast in bronze and the fountain it resides in is granite. She is a mermaid standing on seaweed as she rises from the water, with four fish splashing at her feet and surrounded by four sea lions. She is depicted leaning back as if to bid farewell to her element. Vallgren's intention was to symbolize the rebirth of Helsinki.