Dogon Bronze Maternity Figure

A mother, one knee drawn high, a child pulled close.

Mother-and-child imagery runs throughout Dogon art, where fertility and the continuity of the family were central concerns. This bronze was made in Mali in the early 20th century and is four inches high. The other leg folds beneath her, its surface incised with fine parallel lines. Her arm crosses her chest, holding the small child against her body. Her face is narrow and angular, with a pointed nose and prominent ears.

The dark bronze carries green in the recesses, with crusty buildup that shows its age.

Families, in the end, are about holding on.