Painting from a men's house
Papua New Guinea - Sepik, Kambot
not available anymore
Size
H: 102 cm
B: 41 cm
H: 40.2 inch
B: 16.1 inch
Description
palm leaf sheath (sago palm), white and black pigments, red ochre, black ground, a large face in the centre, surrounded by signs and figures, four drilled holes for attachment, rep. (crack fixed by plant fibre);
at the lower reaches of the Keram and the Sepik river small paintings were lined up inside the mens houses and underneath the large facade paintings. They were exclusively intended for the initiates eyes and probably served for instruction: with the help of the figures they imparted secret knowledge and certain spiritual aspects.