Double Figure

Subject Matter:

Dogon sculptures were often created for religious purposes, housed in shrines and placed upon altars to promote the fertility of both land and people. Dogon figure style diverges between tall and slim bodies with oval-shaped heads, and short, heavier figures. The concept of ancestral lineage is crucial in Dogon culture; sculptures are created by blacksmiths - revered in Dogon culture - and are used for ceremonial and initiation purposes.

Sources:

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Museum label for Male Figure With Raised Arms. New York, NY.

Helene Leloup. "Dogon Figure Styles." African Arts 22, no. 1 (1988).

Roslyn Adele Walker. The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009.

Physical Description:

Two figures, one on the other's shoulders, carved from a single piece of wood. 

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.