Little man (Mannetje)

About this artwork.

Lost in thought and with his hands contentedly folded together, a small man stands on the newly renovated H.W. Mesdag Square in the Schildersbuurt. The symmetrically stylized little man is made of Belgian limestone and appears to stand on one leg and foot. Only the sides of his arms are polished, giving them a darker appearance.

Little Man was created in 1975 by sculptor Jan van Baren (1942-1995). He graduated in 1967 from Academie Minerva in Groningen. Van Baren created figurative works in bronze, stone, wood, and combinations thereof, mainly animal figures. Several of Van Baren's sculptures can be found in Groningen, including a few nearby, such as Ram on the Taco Mesdagplein and Lotus Bud on the square of the Blekerstraat.

Little Man spent some time in the municipal depot but returned to the street with the redesign of H.W. Mesdag Square. For a while, that square also became a poetic setting: the Groningen poet N.E.M. Pareau wrote a poem about it, capturing the atmosphere of the place:

The little man, the little man

Is at the back of the tram.

The weather is fine; the sunshine

Warms H.W. Mesdag Square

And makes the street pavement shine.

No crisis can touch us now!

Christien sits inside on a bench;

For she is lame.

N.E.M. Pareau

The poem precisely emphasizes what Mannetje does in the public space: it provides a small, human focal point that briefly elevates the everyday environment. In 2026, a stone with this poem will be placed by the Mannetje. 

About the assignment.

Not much is known about the origins of Mannetje; it seems to have stood for a while at the De Oosterpoort Cultural Center, after which it was moved to the municipal art storage. On the occasion of the completion of the redesign of H.W. Mesdag Square, the sculpture was reinstalled here on July 10, 2025 and is once again on view. And the neighborhood is happy about it: Mannetje always has fresh flowers in his hands!

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Jan van Baren

• District
  Oosterpoort & Europapark

• Year of creation
  1975

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Bluestone (Belgian)

• Dimensions
  h 81 x b 16 x d 31 cm