Carving "Soul in Purgatory"

Ethel Dougan

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a figure emerging from an encircling structure of jagged, shard-like formations. The subject appears to be seated with their hands clasped together in front of their chest. The color of the sculpture is a reddish-brown, giving it a grounded, earthy appearance. Made from a material that evokes the texture of rough stone or clay, it appears sturdy and timeworn. The figure's surface is textured, adding a tactile quality to the form, and the facial features are roughly hewn yet discernible. The sculpture stands as a solitary form against a plain background.