Tenenkun Terracotta Sculpture of a Seated Captive, 1200 CE - 1400 CE
Terracotta
13
PF.3526
Further images
This is a depiction of a male nude posed kneeling with arms bound behind him at the wrists. Surely a captive of war, he sits subjugated but not robbed of...
This is a depiction of a male nude posed kneeling with arms bound behind him at the wrists. Surely a captive of war, he sits subjugated but not robbed of his strength or spirit. We are witness to the tension and vitality evident in his taut body, his hands clenched into fists, and while we no longer have the head and its position to offer facial expression, the body speaks volumes. Its expressive body, however, helps us to envision the face of the captive, to use our creative imagination. Perhaps the expression was of pain or of submission or of undying pride of a warrior. Although the exact information has been lost, the earthy figure hints us of the history and art works of ancient Mali.