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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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African_art
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-02
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The art of sub-Saharan Africa, from
prehistory onwards, ranging from the art of
ancient civilizations to the new styles of
post-imperialist African nations. Among the
best-known examples of historic African art
are bronze figures from Benin and Ife (in
Nigeria) dating from about 1500 and, also on
the west coast, in the same period, bronze or
brass figures for weighing gold, made by the
Ashanti. prehistoric art rock paintings are
found in various regions, notably in the
western Sahara, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and,
from the end of the period, East Africa. Some
of the earliest pictures are of
elephants. The images tend to be linear and
heavily stylized and sometimes show a
geometric style. Terracotta figures from
Nigeria, dating from several centuries BC,
have stylized features similar to Oceanic art
forms and some early South American styles.
Zimbabwe ruins of ancient stone buildings
from before 300 AD suggest a time of
outstanding craft skill in the country's
history; sculptures have also been found in
the ruins. Benin and Ife the bronze
sculptures from the 13th- 16th-century realms
of Benin and Ife on the west coast of Africa
(examples in the British Museum, London) are
distinctive in style and demonstrate
technical refinement in casting by the
lost-wax method (see sculpture). The Ife
heads are naturalistic, while those of Benin
are more stylized. The art of Benin includes
high-relief bronze plaques with figurative
scenes, and ivory carvings. Some of these
appear to have been designed for the
Portuguese trade. Ashanti metalworkers of the
Ashanti people (in present-day Ghana) made
weights, highly inventive forms with
comically exaggerated figures. general over
the centuries, much artistic effort was
invested in religious objects and masks, with
wooden sculpture playing a large role. Many
everyday items, such as bowls, stools, drums,
and combs, also display fine craft and a
vitality of artistic invention. Since much of
Africa's history up to the late 19th century
has not been researched, African art has
occupied a meagre place in Western
art-historical studies. In the early 20th
century West African art had a profound
influence on the work of many European
painters and sculptors.