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Seydou Keïta — A Young Girl Wearing a 'Robe Samba' dress
Seydou Keïta

A Young Girl Wearing a 'Robe Samba' dress

A young girl stands confidently before Seydou Keïta's signature patterned backdrop, dressed in an elaborately embroidered 'Robe Samba' that speaks to the vibrant fashion culture of 1950s Bamako, Mali. Keïta's masterful use of natural light in his gelatin silver print brings out the intricate details of the traditional garment, while his sensitive eye captures both the child's youthful innocence and a quiet sense of dignity. The image reflects Keïta's celebrated ability to honor his subjects' individuality and cultural identity, elevating studio portrait photography into a profound art form.

Medium
Gelatin silver print, printed 1995.

🔨 Auction Lot

Photographs

April 3, 2013

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About this work

Seydou Keïta, A Young Girl Wearing a 'Robe Samba' dress

A young girl stands confidently before Seydou Keïta's signature patterned backdrop, dressed in an elaborately embroidered 'Robe Samba' that speaks to the vibrant fashion culture of 1950s Bamako, Mali. Keïta's masterful use of natural light in his gelatin silver print brings out the intricate details of the traditional garment, while his sensitive eye captures both the child's youthful innocence and a quiet sense of dignity. The image reflects Keïta's celebrated ability to honor his subjects' individuality and cultural identity, elevating studio portrait photography into a profound art form.

Medium
Gelatin silver print, printed 1995.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Malian, Monochrome, Twentieth Century, Figure, Documentary, Photograph, Gelatin Silver Print, Portrait, Woman, Black and White

More works by Seydou Keïta

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago