Chicago, Illinois
Fountain of Time: A Concrete Epic of Human Mortality
Chicago, Illinois, United States
By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published
Why it’s cool
This sprawling monument uses a hundred distinct figures to illustrate the fleeting nature of life as they pass before a scythe-bearing Father Time.
Standing at the edge of Washington Park, a massive procession of human forms appears frozen in a frantic rush toward the unknown. This is the Fountain of Time, an expansive sculptural work that has occupied this space since 1922.
It serves as a stark, visual meditation on the passage of years and the inevitability of the end, capturing the motion of a century of souls in a single, static arc.
Why It Stands Out
The installation features 100 individual figures, ranging from small children to the elderly, all surging forward. Overlooking this crowd is the towering, hooded presence of Father Time, who observes the parade with a scythe in hand.
While the faces are largely anonymous to represent the collective human experience, the creator, Lorado Taft, carved his own likeness and that of an assistant into the western edge of the composition. Beyond its philosophical themes, the work holds historical significance as a tribute to a century of peaceful relations between the United Kingdom and America following the War of 1812.
The choice of material was also a practical innovation. Because the project budget could not cover traditional marble or granite, Taft utilized steel-reinforced hollow concrete.
This was a rare choice for fine art at the turn of the century. Although the concrete suffered wear over the decades, a series of meticulous restorations has ensured the figures continue their march today.
Before You Go
The sculpture is situated at the western terminus of the Midway Plaisance where it meets Washington Park. If you are driving from Lake Shore Drive, follow Stony Island to the Midway.
You will find the monument located on the boundary between the Hyde Park and Washington Park neighborhoods. The Obama Kissing Rock is another commemorative monument located in this part of the city.
Public parking is restricted to the Midway itself.
Questions worth answering
What is the actual subject of this massive sculpture?
A hooded figure of Father Time watches a crowd of 100 people rush toward their end. It serves as a visual meditation on how quickly life passes for everyone from children to the elderly.
Can I find any specific people among the anonymous faces?
Lorado Taft included himself in the work. You can find his face and his assistant's likeness carved into the western side of the piece.
Why was concrete used instead of a more traditional stone?
The project budget was too small for granite or marble. Taft used hollow concrete reinforced with steel to make the installation possible in 1922.
Where should I leave my car when I visit?
You can only park on the Midway itself. The monument sits right where the Hyde Park and Washington Park neighborhoods meet.
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