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Le couple, éd. 8/8

Possibly late 1960s
Not on view
Created in the late 1960s, Le Couple is one of Mamadou Cheikh “Modou” Niang’s most well-known works. The tapestry depicts two silhouettes moving towards or away from one another under the protective presence of a baobab tree, symbolizing love, separation, or life’s emotional complexities. The baobab, a tree of mythical strength and longevity, serves as both witness and protector in this intimate scene. Niang’s signature style incorporates abstract, geometric motifs, adding decorative depth to the narrative. Le Couple is a significant piece within the Senegalese tapestry movement, demonstrating Niang’s unique fusion of tradition and modern abstraction.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Le couple, éd. 8/8
  • Artist: Mamadou Cheikh "Modou" Niang (born 1942)
  • Date: Possibly late 1960s
  • Geography: Senegal, Thiès
  • Culture: Senegalese
  • Medium: Cotton (warp), wool (weft), dye, other unidentified fibers
  • Dimensions: H. 49 3/16 x W. 41 3/4 in. (H. 125 x W. 106 cm.)
  • Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
  • Credit Line: Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions Fund, 2025
  • Object Number: 2025.117
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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Band with Vine Scroll, Tapestry weave in purple wool (dyed with indigotin-containing dye and madder) and undyed linen on plain-weave ground of undyed linen; details in flying shuttle with undyed linen
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Lity-Lity, éd. 4/8, Bocar Diong Senegalese, Cotton (warp), wool (weft), and other unidentified fibers, Senegalese
Lity-Lity, éd. 4/8
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ca. 1970s
Angels Praising (Angeli Laudantes), Sir Edward Burne-Jones (figures) British, Dyed wool and silk on undyed cotton warp (15 warps per inch; 5-6 per cm.), British, Merton Abbey
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Interrogation du masque, éd. 5/8, Tamsir Gueye Senegalese, Cotton (warp), wool (weft), and other unidentified fibers, Senegalese
Interrogation du masque, éd. 5/8
Tamsir Gueye
Late 1970s

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