Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) ""Man Without Heart" Sculpture" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Netherlands Europa 1987 Modern Art - Architecture stamp issued May 12, 1987. The sculpture featured in this artwork commemorates the devastation of Rotterdam during World War II. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and the largest port in Europe in terms of volume of goods handled. On May 14, 1940, several hours after the city had surrendered, the Germans bombed Rotterdam, devastating some 645 acres of the center of the city, destroying thousands of dwellings, retail shops, factories, office buildings, banks, hotels, theaters, churches, schools, and it is estimated that 30,000 people were killed. After the war, the city fought its way back to new vigor, rebuilding along ultramodern lines. The city's rehabilitation is expressed by the motto which Queen Juliana added to its coat of arms, "Stronger through struggle." This sculpture is entitled "Verwustete Stadt -- Mann ohne Herz," meaning "Bombed Out City -- Man without Heart." The sculpture was created by Ossip Zadkine, who was born in 1890 in Russia, and died in 1967 in France. The "Man without Heart" sculpture symbolized Rotterdam's devastation by the Nazis in World War II. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B10763)