Jacques Saint-Seine

Jacques de Saint Seine (1897-1972) Bassari dance in honour of the ancestors, Negare, Guinea Danse bassari en l'honneur des anctres, Ngar, Guine signed lower left J de Saint Seine oil on board 51 x 97 cm Lot Notes Sketches by the artist and manuscript notes on thereverse. Perched on a hilltop, the village of Negare was renowned for thereligious festivities and traditional dances of the Bassari people.Saint Seine records that in this ceremony, which lasted three daysand three nights, the dancers are lined up according to theirposition in the social hierarchy. To the left, a line of old women,and then twenty-six year old men wearing panther skins andastonishing feather head-dresses. Facing them, young women who areat a marriageable age, but who are as yet without a child, and tothe right, young women, who have already had a child, but who wishto attract a possible husband. For a commentary about Saint Seine'swork, see Monique Gessain, Collections Bassari du Muse de l'Homme,II, Paris, Editions du Musum National d'Histoire Naturelle,1997.