Man searching for Meaning (Purpose I)

Object Details

Ruth Seopedi Motau, born 1968, Soweto, South Africa

Description

Color photograph, documentary in approach. Vantage is from above at a 45-degree angle, with a sharp focus on the top of a clear plexiglass lectern. A closed Bible rests on the lectern with a hand-held microphone has been lain above it, and a small grey towel or washcloth under the microphone’s silver mouthpiece. The background is blurred, but a man and woman are visible. The man is in profile. His skin is light brown, hair close cropped and he wears a dark suit with white shirt showing at the cuffs. His right hand is raised to touch the forehead of the woman. The woman is full-figured with both arms bent at the elbows and hands raised upward with fingers spread. Her eyes appear to be closed and mouth open. She wears a long, floral-print dress with black waist-length sweater. The background of the left side of the photograph is primarily black, though there is a disc-shaped ring of light along the proper right edge.

Provenance

Acquired directly from Gallery representing artist.

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Museum purchase

2019

Object number

2020-16-1

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Photograph

Medium

Inkjet on cotton paper

Dimensions

H x W x D (Frame): 54.3 × 74.5 × 3.2 cm (21 3/8 × 29 5/16 × 1 1/4 in.)

H x W x D (Visible image): 39.4 × 59.5 cm (15 1/2 × 23 7/16 in.)

Geography

Johannesburg, South Africa

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

Writing

male

female

hand

Record ID

nmafa_2020-16-1

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7188780ec-fc0a-4f58-b21d-7e08d3b897b6