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Face Mask (Kpeliye'e), 19th–mid-20th century
Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, or Burkina Faso; Senufo
Wood, pigment The term Senufo refers to a group of more than thirty interrelated languages and the people who speak those languages in a region that spans the present-day national boundaries of Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Senufo arts and cultural practices display great regional variation. Three broad cultural divisions reflect general differences in dialect and sculptural style: southern Senufo in the region around the Ivoirian town of Katiola; northern Senufo in the vicinity of the Malian city of Sikasso; and central Senufo living in the vicinity of Korhogo, an important administrative center in Côte d'Ivoire. Bondoukou, Korhogo, and Boundiali, three cities across northern Côte d'Ivoire, have historically been centers where face masks have been produced and collected.
Throughout the twentieth century, male performers wore raffia-fringed face masks, capes, and full-body outfits to entertain audiences at funerals, commemorative ceremonies, and other events in Senufo communities. Masqueraders' feminine dance movements pay homage to the importance of women. The face masks often emphasize feminine facial features and are embellished with geometric and figurative elements. The innovative sculptor who conceived of this delicately carved mask elongated the figure's nose to create an attenuated pointed beak and underscored linear design elements.

I'm familiar with african art in general because my father is from Sierra Leon (South-West Africa). This face mask looks like the one my father had but not from the same tribe as I researched this19th-mid -20th century mask. My fathers mask was used for special occasions such as weddings but this face mask contrast my fathers because it is used in various celebrations. As I viewed the mask and its meaning it kinda touched me spiritually because of the symbolism that it holds for these cities. I used the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History to reach this African mask, the information was on point and accurate.

Standing Male Figure, ?12th–?17th century
Western Sudan; (Dogon?)
Wood Although its precise culture and date of origin are unknown, this work is intriguing for both stylistic and chronological reasons. Its abstract, protuberant facial features, spare but elegant dress, and prestigious objects relate it to Dogon sculptures, but its style and iconography share much in common with that of Inland Niger Delta terracottas of the twelfth to seventeenth centuries as well. Indeed, it has been suggested that this sculpture is contemporaneous with these terracottas, a hypothesis that has been reinforced by early radiocarbon dates.
This wooden sculpture depicts a distinguished elder whose demeanor, attire, and presentation command respect. His short trousers and cotton cap are characteristic of traditional Dogon dress, and the L-shaped wooden staff slung over his right shoulder is used as a weapon, tool, and ritual object by Dogon men. Accoutrements such as the decorative pendant hanging about his neck and the knife strapped to his left arm call attention to and reinforce the man's dignity and high status.
At present it is not possible to definitely assert that this work was made by the Dogon themselves or a neighboring people. One of the many figures with unquestionably Sahelian features but uncertain provenance, this work and others like it are legacies of a region and history that we are only beginning to understand.


I enjoyed the african part of the meusem because of my heritage and I must say that this work of art hit home for me again. To imagin having this piece of art in my home would be great but I know it won't happen, I mean to me it is beauty, it says "wise man", not sure where he's going with his leg bent but if he's old he couldn't stand for long straight so he had to bend it to either move towards his destination or not who knows thats what I think the artist wanted us to believe, he sculpted our perception.

H. 25 3/8 in. (64.5 cm)
Gift of Lester Wunderman, 1985 (1985.422.2)

On view: Gallery 350   Last Updated February 28, 2012

H. 15 15/16 in. (40.6 cm), W. 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm), D. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1969 (1978.412.365)

On view: Gallery 350   Last Updated February 28, 2012