Charles van Wijk, Bon Ingen Housz Schurmann fountain (1916)

Willem Schürmann (1877-1915) was a Rotterdam writer and published the novel 'De Berkelmans' (1906) and the play 'De Violiers' (1911). Schürmann was popular at a time when culture in Rotterdam was on the back burner. A century ago, the city was mainly under the spell of the explosively growing trade and port. In addition, attention was paid at a modest level to variety shows, (folk) theater and revue. Schürmann's work dovetailed with this little bit of cultural interest. He not only worked as a writer, but was also a tailor, through which he knew the Rotterdam trading world. He was extremely critical about this in the family novel 'De Berkelmans'. A year later he published a family drama with a topical touch about the port of Rotterdam based on the life of Lodewijk Pincoffs, the man who founded the modern port of Rotterdam. After Schürmann's early death, it was decided to erect a memorial. Some wanted it in the Grote Schouwburg because of its service to the stage. But others preferred a grander and more public testimonial. It became a fountain outside the city (just as his publications were about the city). Four columns support a water basin above which was a bronze angel with a Melpomene mask (Melpomene is the muse of tragedy, a reference to the serious side of his writings). The edge lettering mentions the titles of Schürmann's main works: 'De Berkelmans', 'Veertig', 'Mushrooms' and 'De Violiers'. The angel turned out to be susceptible to vandalism and was later replaced by a flute player by sculptor B. Ingen-Housz. It stands on four nozzles, which represent theater masks from the Classical Antiquity.