The picture presents an erect wooden sculpture of a male made by Rabha tribesmen, signifying a beautiful piece of indigenous craft and tribal artistry from Assam, where the Rabhas mainly reside. This fine example of craftsmanship serves purposes rooted in culture and is embedded in deep animistic beliefs, which sprout forth from the public through art forms such as wood carving as religious and social narratives of the Rabha tribe. This is a wooden male effigy which is completely carved and painted white-the color, symbolically associated with purity and to many tribal people along with the spirits and presence of ancestors.
Here, in this wooden effigy, we see a standing figure showing calmness with dignity, holding a wooden staff or stick, meaning his authority, protection, or ceremonial function. The effigy is placed on a bamboo pedestal made by four flat bamboo strips, a simple yet symbolic base. Bamboo forms much of Rabha material culture; it is most commonly used for their daily needs and ritual objects. This minimalist form and quality of expression highlights the disposition of the Rabhas towards symbolism and minimalism as against realism in their mode of artistic expression.