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Untitled (Seated Figure)
AZ
1940s
Poland
Carved wood with polychrome finish
8 × 7 × 3 inches
This hand-carved relief presents a seated figure in contemplative repose, resting cheek to hand, barefoot and robed in green. The block construction, angular cuts, and muted pigments evoke a sense of intimacy and quiet dignity, capturing the humanity of everyday subjects through direct folk carving.
The work stands out as a mid-20th century Polish folk representation of African / African-diaspora identity, a theme rarely addressed in vernacular carving of the time. The initials “AZ” on the base mark the hand of an individual craftsman rather than a factory workshop. This piece holds both cultural resonance and historical value, embodying themes of diversity in European art of the 1940s.
On display at the Disco Freedom Gallery, 818 Hyde Street, San Francisco.
