Baboon

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Bessie Stough Callender's artistic endeavors were significantly impacted by the closed geometric forms characteristic of ancient Egyptian art. In Baboon, she skillfully carved diverse textures into the limestone, thereby adding depth and visual appeal to the sculpture. The baboon's face is smooth, while his features are accentuated with sleek lines and cutouts that draw the viewer's attention. The intense energy of the sculpture is concentrated in the baboon's commanding brow, where the contoured limestone reveals piercing, intelligent eyes. As the king of his tribe, no other male dared approach him as he sat regally surrounded by his harem. This powerful image is vividly described by Harold Callender in his book Fun Tomorrow: The Story of an Artist and a Way of Life, published in 1953. The Smithsonian American Art Museum proudly displays Baboon, which was generously donated to the institution by Bessie Stough Callender's husband, Harold Callender, as a memorial to her enduring legacy.