Fontain "Kids and a Frog", Odessa

The “Kids and a Frog” Fountain, officially known as Youth, is one of Odessa’s most beloved small monuments, blending French artistic heritage with the city’s own cultural character. The sculpture is a replica of a work by French Art Nouveau artist Max Blondat, originally titled Jeunesses and first exhibited at the Paris Salon of Arts in 1904. Blondat produced several versions of the piece with minor variations, and one of these made its way to Odessa in the early twentieth century, marking the start of its long local history.

The fountain’s arrival in the city is linked to jeweller Akim Bisk, on whose private estate the sculpture was first installed between 1905 and 1907. Its subject-a group of three children leaning toward a lively frog-captured a sense of lightness and curiosity that resonated with Odessa’s spirit. Over time, the artwork earned affectionate nicknames from locals, including “Narcissus,” reflecting the playful interpretations it inspired.

Its public life began in 1925, when the newly nationalized Bisk estate transferred the sculpture to Theater Square near the Odessa Opera House. The fountain became a familiar feature of the square, adding a touch of whimsy to one of the city’s most architecturally impressive areas. In the 1970s, it was repositioned once more, brought closer to the historic English Club building, where it remains today.

In 2008, the fountain was officially recognised as an architectural heritage site, confirming its cultural value and ensuring its continued preservation. Today, visitors can find the sculpture set amid one of Odessa’s most elegant public spaces, where its cheerful figures offer a brief and charming pause during a walk around the Opera House and the surrounding historic quarter.