Mater and Child
Item
-
Accession Number
-
2018.6
-
Title
-
Mater and Child
-
Ethnic Group
-
Yoruba
-
Subject
-
Statue|Shrine|Altar|West Africa
-
Country
-
Nigeria
-
Date
-
20th Century
-
Medium
-
Wood|Blue Pigment
-
Format
-
H x W x D: 18.5 x 6.25 x 6.5 in (46.99 x 15.875 x 16.51 cm)
-
Description
-
In African art, a repetitive theme is a relationship between mother and child. For the Yoruba, maternity figures were placed on shrines and altars to ask their ancestors to grace them with children or to thank them for already giving them this gift. The woman is sitting down in a stable stance while nursing her child, signifying her nurturing role as a mother. Ideals of beauty are seen in her large head, muscular physiognomy, and large feet. Specific Yoruba ideals of beauty are seen in the scarification of both cheeks and her agogo (cockscomb) hairstyle, which is tinged with blue pigment.
