Mbuti pygmies hand beaten tree bark cloth painting. Congo. Cm 45x85 ca. Early 20th century. Quiet, sparse decoration, great spacing. Provenance is a Belgian collection. Bought at auction. The painting was done with a mixture of carbon and gardenia juice. The pattern is an abstract expression of their life and culture in the forest. In good condition. Such bark clothes rarely lie flat. They were used mainly as loincloth, as blankets and as trade item. The Mbuti people lived in the Ituri rain forest in the north-eastern part of Congo. Here you really have the magic, the graphic, the minimalism, the beauty……. Last photo credit to Matt Reichel. Email carlokocman@gmail.com