This graceful sculpture of a female comes from the Ivory Coast. The art of the Senufo tribe is marked by elegant, geometric forms and vertical elongation of figures. Their wooden...
This graceful sculpture of a female comes from the Ivory Coast. The art of the Senufo tribe is marked by elegant, geometric forms and vertical elongation of figures. Their wooden sculptures of figures were often used in ceremonial rituals, an important part of life in Ivory Coast. The slim, vertical shape of this female figure emphasizes a crucial concept of fertility that was cherished by Senufo tribe and many other tribes throughout Africa. Her highly stylized face looks down slightly at her beautifully sculpted breasts and protruding belly. Her thin, elongated arms are at the sides of her torso, further accentuating the vertical aesthetic of the sculpture. Her hands, however, are placed on both sides of her belly, like she is holding something precious. Incision decorations on her breasts also enhance her femininity, and her delicately sculpted face expresses demure disposition. Morever, her protruding belly-button seems symbolic of the concept of fertility and birth. It alludes to the idea of fertility, perhaps an umblical cord connecting to the new life. Not only does her grace and beauty come from aesthetic qualities, but they also come from spiritual and conceptual richness embodied in her.