The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Male Figure

Male Figure

late 1800s-early 1900s

Did You Know?

This figure is considered “monumental” as most other types of Beembe figures measure about 15 centimeters tall.

Description

This sculpture played a role in ancestral worship among the Beembe people. Ancestors are held in high regard among the Beembe, and this figure is thought to represent an idealized form of a deceased individual within the ethnic group. The object is one of only two seated male Beembe figures of this size in Western institutions.
  • ?–1966
    (Merton Simpson [1928-2013], New York, NY, 1966, sold to René and Odette Delenne)
    1966–2010
    René [1901-1998] and Odette Delenne [1925-2012], Brussels, BE, 2010, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2010–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Leuzinger, Elsy. Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika, 269. Exh. Cat. Recklinghausen: Verlag Aurel Bongers, in association with Kunsthaus Zürich, October 31, 1970-February 10, 1971. Reproduced: p. 269, cat. S6
    Leuzinger, Elsy. Afrikanische Kunstwerke: Kulturen am Niger, 273. Exh. Cat. Recklinghausen: Verlag Aurel Bongers, in association with Villa Hügel, March 25-June 13, 1971. Reproduced: p. 273, cat. no. S 6
    Wichmann, Siegfried, ed. World Cultures and Modern Art, 271. Exh. Cat. Munich: Verlag Bruckmann, in association with Haus der Kunst, June 16-September 30, 1972. Mentioned: p. 271, no. 1782; reproduced: p. 271, no. 1782
    Wichmann, Siegfried, ed. Weltkulturen und moderne Kunst, 64. Exh. Cat. Munich: Verlag Bruckmann, in association with Haus der Kunst, June 16-September 30, 1972. 64, cat. 1782
    Söderberg, Bertil. "Les Figures d'ancêtres chez les Babembé," in Arts d'Afrique Noire, no. 13 (1975): 21-33; no. 14 (1975): 14-37. Reproduced: p. 27
    Bastin, Marie-Louise, et al. Utotombo. L'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges, 95. Exh. Cat. Brussels: Société des Expositions du Palais des Beaux-Arts, March 25-June 5, 1988. Reproduced: p. 95, cat. XXVII; mentioned: p. 296
    Lehuard, Raoul. Art Bakongo. Les Centres de style 2. Arnouville, FR: Arts d'Afrique Noire, 1989, 379. Mentioned: p. 379; reproduced: p. 381, fig. G 17-2-1
    Heymer, Kay, and Siegfried Gohr. Afrikanische Skulptur: Die Erfindung der Figur, 181. Exh. Cat. Cologne: Museum Ludwig, July 7-September 30, 1990. Reproduced: p. 181, fig. 81
    Petridis, Constantine. "René and Odette Delenne." In Tribal Art XV-4, no. 61 (Autumn 2011): 118. Reproduced p. 118, fig. 2
    Petridis, Constantine, et al. Fragments of the Invisible: The René and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 2013, 35, 105. Reproduced and mentioned: pp. 18-19, 35, 105, 112, cat. 2
    "In Case You Missed It: Fragments of the Invisible." The International Review of African American Art 25, no. 1 (2014): 10-11. Reproduced: p.11.
  • Fragments of the Invisible: The Rene and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 27, 2013-February 9, 2014).
    Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague, Netherlands (November - January 1991)
    Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany (July 7 - September 30, 1990)
    Utotombo: L'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges. Société des Expositions du Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium (March 25 - June 5, 1988)
    Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany (June 16 - September 30, 1972)
    Kunsthaus Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (October 31, 1970 - February 10, 1971)
  • {{cite web|title=Male Figure|url=false|author=|year=late 1800s-early 1900s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2010.428