Doll c. 20th century

This Doll was carved by a Yoruba artist out of wood, we don't know exactly when, but isn’t she cool? The material has a matte, earthy quality that speaks to its origins. It makes me think about the process of reduction and the marks that are left, you can see the hatch marks on the headdress. There’s something direct about working this way that really appeals; it feels like a conversation between the artist and the wood. Look at the tilt of the head, the angle of the neck, how it sits on that sturdy base. The way the artist simplified the form, reducing the figure to its essential shapes and lines, reminds me of some of Brancusi’s sculptures. But where Brancusi sought to capture an idealized form, this artist seems more interested in the character of the individual. Ultimately, it’s that quality of attentiveness, that willingness to embrace imperfection, that really makes this piece sing.