Initiation, Liberia

Initiation, Liberia

Date: 1983

Material: acrylic on canvas

Size: (89.6 x 59.1 cm)

Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum

Initiation, Liberia by Lois Mailou Jones was created in 1983 after her trips to the eleven African countries. This painting has noticeable African inspired patterns, as well as the main colors of Africa which is black, green, red, and yellow. Jones shares the knowledge that she has acquired while in the country Liberia through her representation of the Sande society initiation ritual, i.e. the white mask covering the African woman’s eyes. Sande society initiation ritual is when a girl enters into womanhood as well as gaining leadership, and then succumbing to female genital mutilation. Not only is she demonstrating her interpretation of the initiation ritual, but she is also condemning the ritual. Jones is showing her disapproval of the ritual by having the African woman’s silhouette expressing dissatisfaction for the initiation ritual.