The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 25, 2024
Female Figure
c. 1940–1950
Overall: 48.2 cm (19 in.)
Gift of Katherine C. White 1971.295
Location: not on view
Description
The concept of tin—success and reputation—inspired individualism and competition among Dan warrior chiefs in the 1800s and fostered enormous artistic productivity and innovation. These wealthy individuals would commission various prestige items, including portraits of women to honor a favorite wife. At the appropriate dramatic moment during a lavish feast for his community, the chief would unveil the figure which had been carefully wrapped and covered in a basket. Other items might also be displayed and distributed to enhance the host's reputation and to demonstrate his good taste and generosity.- Katherine White Reswick
- CMA 1973: "Year in Review 1972," CMA Bulletin LX (March, 1973), p. 106, no. 24, repr. p. 105CMA 1968: "African Tribal Images: The Katherine White Reswick Collection," cat. no. 64, repr.
- {{cite web|title=Female Figure|url=false|author=|year=c. 1940–1950|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.295