Femme M’Gogo, Dodoma 1925

Alexandre Jacovleff created this evocative drawing of a woman from Dodoma using subtle earth-tone chalks. The composition centres on the woman's upper body, her gaze direct yet gentle. The soft modelling creates an intimate, immediate presence. Jacovleff’s attention to detail, especially in the depiction of the M’Gogo woman's adornments, invites a semiotic reading. The sharp, golden spikes in her ears, juxtaposed with the delicate necklaces, speak to a complex interplay of cultural codes. The bright colour of her adornments disrupts the subdued palette and draws the eye to these key signifiers of identity and status. The artist's delicate handling of line and shadow destabilizes the conventional Western gaze. The drawing prompts us to question our own assumptions about representation and otherness. By focusing on the formal elements, Jacovleff encourages a more nuanced understanding of cultural difference. Ultimately, the drawing serves not just as a portrait but as a site of cross-cultural dialogue.