African Art

Traditions, symbols, and aesthetics of the African continent

Maurice Delafosse

• Publisher: Parkstone International
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9781844848973
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783107865
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

African Art invites you to explore the dynamic origins of the vast artistic expressions arising from the exotic and mystifying African continent. Since the discovery of African art at the end of the nineteenth century during the colonial expositions it has been a limitless source of inspiration for artists who, over time, have perpetually recreated these artworks. The power of Sub-Saharan African art lies within its visual diversity, demonstrating the creativity of the artists who are continuing to conceptualize new stylistic forms. From Mauritania to South Africa and from the Ivory Coast to Somalia, statues, masks, jewelry, pottery and tapestries compose a variety of daily and ritual objects springing from these richly varied societies.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Origins and Prehistory
• Development of Negro Civilisations in Antiquity
• Negro Africa in the Middle Ages
• West Africa from the 15th Century to Today
• The Negroes of Central and Eastern Sudan
• South Africa
• Material Civilisations
• Social Customs
• Religious Beliefs and Practices
• Artistic and Intellectual Expression
• Appendix
• Selective Bibliography
• Index by ethnicity
• Notes