In Perfect Harmony | A Dogon Couple
Symmetry is a common theme in Dogon culture, whether it is in their art, religion, or domestic life. This couple references that both males and females have roles and contributions that make up the single unit of their partnership. Everything on one figure is matched on the other. For example, the male's beard complements his partner's cylindrical labret piercing on her bottom lip. The child that clings to her back is in tune with the quiver on his. The figures that support the stool that the couple sit on may represent ancestors, which could be a hint towards the supportive role that ancestors play in Dogon society.
Dogon/Mali Culture
ca. 18th/19th century
Wood, carving
Gift of Martha and Robert Fogelman
2008.2.87