Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Not on view
Photographic records suggest that the power pack of this “Mangake Chibaste, the largest Idol of the Majumbe race,” as Visser called it, was altered before it left Africa. It has essentially been stripped of most of the additions made by the ritual specialist, such as the beard and lower garment, which reveals the excellence of the sculpture. The face is especially handsome, with high modeled cheekbones and a finely pointed chin, and the lower body is striking for the unusual degree to which it is defined. There are curves that articulate the buttocks and calves, and the powerful but slender legs distribute the body’s weight in a slight contrapposto.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
