Art Institute of Chicago

Veranda Post (Òpó Ògògá)

Olowe of Ise (died 1938)

Date

1910-14

Medium

Wood and pigment

Culture

Ikere

Department

Arts of Africa

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

One of four posts sculpted for the palace of the king ( ogoga ) of Ikere, this evocative image of the Yoruba concept of a divine ruler is a masterwork of Olowe of Ise. The renowned artist’s dynamic style can be distinguished by the interrelationships between figures, their exaggerated proportions, and the use of open space. The sculptor’s diminutive portrayal of the king suggests his dependence on others, and his crown has been emphasized to evoke the spiritual power residing within it. The towering image of the king’s senior wife standing behind him underscores her superior status as a guardian of her husband’s interests, endowed with keen political understanding and supernatural knowledge. She would have placed the crown on the king’s head during his enthronement ceremony. The smaller figures at the king’s feet represent one of his junior wives and the flute-playing trickster god Eshu.

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