FIG. 3 (LEFT): G enre scene (funeral), b y Mayele.
D R Congo. Late 19 30s. L: 4 8 cm.
B eq uest of th e D aco family. Accessioned by th e RMCA in 197 8, EO.197 8.25.14.
Th e work of th e sculptor Mayele was greeted with admiration in 19 39 b y th e Amis de l’Art
Indigè ne. B ut despite h is evident craftmansh ip, viewed th rough a contemporary lens, Mayele’s
compositions seem related to what we now call tourist art. Th e sk ill with wh ich h e represents
³traditional´ sFenes and his FomSositions Zith multiSle moYing ¿ gures rendered Zith relatiYel\
W estern proportions represented h is own form of expression in th e eyes of th e AAI. B ut h is
st\le, and in SartiFular the ³re¿ nement of Sh\siTue´ of his sFulSture, Zas a SerfeFt ¿ t Zith the
preferences of h is wh ite patrons, even th ough th ey th emselves claimed that th ey protected
0a\ele ³from eYer\ infl uenFe that ran Founter to the natural deYeloSment of his art.´
63
FIG. 5 (À GAUCHE) :
F uti D aniel, L’Enfance.
Ph oto de J. Mulders prise
en 194 8.
Arch ives ph otograph iq ues du
MRAC, HP.1956.15.7 824.
FIG. 5 (LEFT):
F uti D aniel, L’Enfance (Childhood).
Ph otograph b y J. Mulders, 194 8.
RMCA arch ives, HP.1956.15.7 824.