Female Figure (one of a pair) c. 1890

This is one of a pair of wooden "Female Figure" sculptures made by the Tabwa people. The dark wood, carved with meticulous attention to form, presents a study in geometric abstraction and bodily representation. The figures stand rigidly, yet their smooth surfaces and rounded edges invite a tactile appreciation. The incised geometric patterns, particularly the cross-hatching on the torso, serve not merely as decoration but as a semiotic system. This network of signs may reference cultural concepts of beauty, scarification, or social identity, encoding layers of meaning within the artwork's structure. The beads encircling the neck disrupt the smooth flow of the sculpture, introducing texture and color that draw attention to the head. The sculptor destabilizes traditional notions of portraiture through abstraction and geometric precision. The result is a powerful meditation on form, identity, and the cultural codes embedded within visual representation. This piece offers a chance to reflect on how art functions as a complex interplay of aesthetics, symbolism, and cultural values, inviting endless interpretation.