Early African Art
African Art
African art refers to works of visual art, including works of sculpture, painting, metalwork, and pottery, originating from the various peoples of the African continent and influenced by distinct, indigenous traditions of aesthetic expression.
While the various artistic traditions of such a large and diverse continent display considerable regional and cultural variety, there are consistent artistic themes, recurring motifs, and unifying elements across the broad spectrum of the African visual expression. As is the case for every artistic tradition in human history, African art was created within specific social, political, and religious contexts. Likewise, African art was often created not purely for art's sake, but rather with some practical, spiritual, and/or didactic purpose in mind. In general, African art prioritizes conceptual and symbolic representation over realism, aiming to visualize the subject's spiritual essence.
African Art in The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
Works from across the African subcontinent in The Met’s collection span a fired clay figure shaped in Mali's Inner Niger Delta in the thirteenth century to the fiber creation, LES HERBES FOLLES DU VIEUX LOGIS (2022), by contemporary Malagasy innovator Joël Andrianomearisoa. Major forms of visual expression surveyed relate to traditions of portraiture, dynastic succession, generational rites of passage, ancestor veneration, healing and divination, and theatrical performance.
A Gallery of Ancient African Art
by Mark Cartwright 30/4/21 world history
In this gallery, we look at striking examples of art from across the African continent. In gold, stone and metals, ancient and medieval African artists have not only given us unique pieces of art to admire but their works are also an insight into their respective cultures whether it be certain animals which were revered, the consideration of the human head as the container of the soul or simply what kind of jewellery was popular.
African art history
A study of African art history indicates the earliest sculpture forms found come from Nigeria and are dated around 500BC. However, the lack of archaeological excavations inhibits knowledge of the antiquity of African art and the sheer disposable nature of the raw materials used in the creation of art objects means that an untold wealth of pieces have disintegrated in time.
African Art
The BMA cares for approximately 2,500 works of African art and is known for its impressive collection of figurative sculpture from the western and central areas of the continent, as well its holdings of beadwork from the eastern and southern regions.
Arts of Africa
Encompassing intricate masks, statuary, jewelry, beadwork, textiles, carved reliefs, and stone and ceramic vessels, the arts of Africa collection reflects over 5,000 years of the continent’s great diversity and complexity. The collection of ancient Egyptian art features vibrantly painted stelae (stone slabs), a striking basalt statue of the falcon god Horus, and the richly decorated coffin of Paankhenamun.
What’s on view
by NATIONAL MUSEUM of AFRICAN ART
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