This is the orisha Obá and the painting is about one of the myths regarding her and her ear.
Rosales is an Afro-Latinx artist whose work is featured in museums such as the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.
The color and the depiction of that fabric, and the way it highlights the deep brown of her skin is just gorgeous. And her face. The look in her eyes and the hint of a smile. It’s Everything. It’s all just Everything.
I highly recommend that you check out the exhibition brochure for “Entwined”, that was at the University of California, Santa Barbara from January-May 2022.
(Here is a quick walkthrough of the exhibit. Here is part of a talk the art gave about the art.)
Hip Mask / ca. 16th century / Nigerian / Benin Kingdom / Ivory and brass studs, 7 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (17.8 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm)
"Quick in catching" is a praise name for the leopard and for the chief who wore this mask. An alert leopard's gaze seems present in these glinting brass eyes. Just as the leopard can stalk his prey and attack with swift force, so can the King (Oba) wield decisive aggression. Full scale ivory leopards often stood at each side of the Oba when he sat in state. A mask of this type is worn on the hip of a chief, seen in the plaque in the museum's collection.
The crescent-star leather jacket with Turkish images from 1850 belonging to the Omaha Indian tribe is exhibited today at the Omaha Painting Museum (Joslyn Art Museum / Omaha - USA).
(This jacket was bought from the Omaha Indians by Lucien Fontenalla, one of the leading French merchants of the time, who was also the sister of one of the Indian chiefs, “Big Elk” (Big Elk), who died in 1855, when he was attacked by the Sioux. . )
تُعرض السترة الجلدية ذات نجمة الهلال مع الصور التركية من عام 1850 والتي تنتمي إلى قبيلة أوماها الهندية اليوم في متحف الرسم في أوماها (متحف جوسلين للفنون / أوماها - الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية).
(اشتراها لوسيان فونتينالا ، أحد التجار الفرنسيين البارزين في ذلك الوقت ، والذي كان أيضًا أختًا لأحد الزعماء الهنود ، "بيج إلك" (بيج إلك) ، الذي توفي عام 1855 ، هذا الجاكيت من هنود أوماها. تعرض للهجوم من قبل سيوكس.)
Omaha Kızılderili kabilesine ait 1850 yılına ait Türk imgeleri ile bezeli ay yıldızlı deri ceket bugün Omaha Resim Sanat Müzesi’nde (Joslyn Art Museum / Omaha – USA) sergilenmektedir.
(Bu ceket, dönemin önde gelen Fransız asıllı tüccarlarından, aynı zamanda annesi kızılderili şeflerinden “Big Elk” (Büyük Geyik)’in kızkardeşi olan ve 1855’de, avlanmaya çıktığı bir gün Siuların baskınına uğrayarak hayatını kaybeden Lucien Fontenalla tarafından Omaha kızılderililerinden alınmış bir cekettir. )
The Yoruba kingship system is a traditional form of government that has been practiced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria for centuries. The Yoruba kingship system is based on a hierarchy of rulers who are responsible for the governance and administration of their respective territories.
At the top of the Yoruba kingship system is the Ooni of Ife, who is considered to be the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people and the custodian of their cultural heritage. Below the Ooni are other kings and rulers, including the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Benin, and the Alake of Egbaland, among others.
Each king or ruler is responsible for the governance of their own territory or city-state, and they are expected to maintain law and order, promote economic prosperity, and uphold the traditions and customs of the Yoruba people. The kings are also responsible for settling disputes and conflicts within their territories and maintaining good relations with neighboring kingdoms.
The Yoruba kingship system is steeped in tradition and culture, and the roles and responsibilities of the kings are deeply respected by the Yoruba people. Despite the influence of modernization and the Nigerian government, the Yoruba kingship system remains an important aspect of Yoruba culture and identity.