Dogon - 马里

多贡人居住在马里班吉亚加断崖的高耸岩区。They rely on agriculture and manage to wrest subsistence crops from poor soil in an area that receives little rain. 他们以农业为生，在降雨稀少、土壤贫瘠的地区仍设法种出维持生计的作物。This monumental figure is one of the largest Dogon sculptures known. 这尊巨制，是已知的最大多贡雕塑之一。The region's dry climate has preserved Dogon works far longer than is usual for African wood sculpture, and radiocarbon testing of this work suggests that it may date as far back as the fifteenth century. 该地区的干燥气候让多贡木雕得以比非洲木雕通常保存得更久，针对这件作品的放射性碳年代测定显示，其历史可追溯至十五世纪。

Dogon sculpture is primarily concerned with the spirits responsible for the fertility of both land and people. 多贡木雕主要关注那些掌管土地与人们生育力的灵魂。These include a family's real and mythical ancestors, the souls of women who died in childbirth, and water spirits. 其中包括一个家庭的真实祖先与神话祖先、在分娩中去世的女性的灵魂，以及水灵。While the exact functions and meanings of individual works often remain obscure, scholars agree that Dogon sculptures were created for shrines. 尽管个体作品的具体功能和含义常常模糊，学者们一致认为多贡雕塑是为神龛而创作的。

The most distinctive subject rendered by Dogon sculptures is that of a single figure standing with raised arms. 多贡雕塑最具辨识度的题材是单个站立、双臂举起的人物。This posture has usually been interpreted as a gesture of prayer—an effort to link earth and heavens—and it has been suggested that it may represent an appeal for rain. 这一姿态通常被解读为祈祷的手势——努力连接地下与天空——并有观点认为它可能代表祈求降雨。This masterpiece of Dogon figurative art depicts a man with a well-modeled body in a naturalistic stance. 这件多贡具象艺术的杰作描绘了一位身形匀称、自然写实的男子。The artist has carefully rendered the figure's musculature, anatomical detail, and body ornament. 艺术家细腻地刻画了其肌肉群、解剖细节以及身体饰物。His stylized beard identifies him as an elder and an individual whose age and experience entitle him to participate in the most important religious, political, and social affairs of Dogon society. 他的风格化胡须将他辨识为长者，是凭借年龄和经历有资格参与多贡社会最重要的宗教、政治和社会事务的人。The figure wears wristlets, armlets, and anklets that indicate his status, as well as a belt and neck pendants resembling leather talismans that also suggest his spiritual importance. 该像还佩戴手镯、臂环和脚踝环，显示其身份地位，以及类似皮制护符的腰带和颈饰，进一步暗示其精神上的重要性。

Provenance: private collection, USA