The Running Horned Woman

 Describe What You See Post: 

https://smarthistory.org/running-horned-woman-tassili-najjer-algeria/

I chose the Running Horned Woman art piece. It is pigment on rock.

Nathalie Hager, "Running Horned Woman, Tassili n’Ajjer, Algeria," in Smarthistory, April 30, 2016, accessed September 3, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/running-horned-woman-tassili-najjer-algeria/.

In this art piece you see a variety of monochromatic colors. The colors range from black to white, to browns and tans. There is also a wide use of texture. In many ares of the images you can observe the stippling technique. There are many little white dots around the face and horns of the woman. Moving on from the painting itself, what do you actually see? For me, I see a woman running. This figure has two large horns on either side of her head. The horns in a way resemble those of a steer. The woman is wearing light coverings and she has dark skin. In the background of the images, there are more people, however, they are smaller and less noticeable. The main emphasis is on the tall woman. I assume it is a woman due to the more feminine figure. If it were a man I feel as if it would have broader features like wide shoulders and bigger legs. The running figure has small hands and feet, the hands are almost non-recognizable. There are two white strings flowing from the woman's hands. As I stated before, there are little white dots all along the bodice of the woman. There are dots along her shoulders, stomach, calves, etc. There is barely any detailing on the face, it is primarily blocked out.

Running Horned Woman, 6,000-4,000 B.C.E., pigment on rock, Tassili n’Ajjer, AlgeriaVisible in this reproduction of the original rock painting are two groupings in red ochre of small human figures superimposed onto the yellow and white horned goddess

Comments

  1. kalebSeptember 5, 2021 at 10:13 PM

    i agree i see a woman as well. there also seems to be alot going on with this picture but you described it great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. StephenSeptember 6, 2021 at 12:21 AM

    Annabelle,
    I like how you pointed out the difference in the colors of the art. I also like how you noticed the potential difference between a woman and a man in the images. I feel as though this distinction would serve as a fundamental decision in the meaning of the art, or even who it would be dedicated to.

    ReplyDelete

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