Module 10 Single Artwork Blogpost

(Seated Figure, terracotta, 13th century, Mali Inland Niger Delta region, Djenné peoples, The Metropolitan Museum of Art) There have been new items found in South Africa from around 70,000 years ago that have provided us with the knowledge and evidence of early human activity. There are the rock paintings of animals and people that were found in the Sahara and Africa as well that show agriculture was introduced in that region. Terracotta sculptures were discovered in Nigeria which means the incorporation of ironworking technology was involved back between 500 B.C.E-200 C.E. Terracotta is a clay-based type of ceramic pottery that can be used to make many things like flowerpots, sculptures, or bricks and is typically fired to make it hard. Back then if there were not kilns, they would use an open fire or leave it out to dry and harden in the sun. The creativity and the culture behind these creations is known as Nok, which is the name of the village where the first terracotta was discovered. Although these Nok terracottas keep getting dug up and analyzed, there is no true evidence or knowledge about the culture that helps us understand why these sculptures were made. The figure shown above dates back to the 13th century and displays an individual sitting down criss cross with his leg hugged to his chest and his head resting on his knee. The posture makes the figure look almost in distress because of how awkward and uncomfortable the pose looks from an outside perspective. Not only does he look uneasy from the position he is in but also from the facial expressions. His mouth is open, almost as if a sigh is being given and the eyes are closed. Scholars have suggested that this figure conveys an attitude of mourning and I can agree just from what I have observed. The oldest city in sub-Saharan Africa known as Jenne-jeno is where this terracotta sculpture is originally from. Newly discovered terracotta figures are often detailed when they are dug up. Artists made the figures by hand, using the terracotta mixed with grog and they were designed very intricately. This sculpture helps provide evidence of a working community with developing technology and a lot of these artifacts hold significant meaning and pass down important historical information.

(Seated Figure, terracotta, 13th century, Mali Inland Niger Delta region, Djenné peoples, The Metropolitan Museum of Art) Dr. Christa Clarke, "Historical overview: to 1600," in Smarthistory, September 21, 2016 https://smarthistory.org/historical-overview/. Newton, Douglas, Julie Jones, Susan Mullin Vogel, and Anne-Louise Schaffer. Notable Acquisitions (Metropolitan Museum of Art) (1981–1982), pp. 65–68 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314362.