World Art: Africa

Peter Stepan, Prestel Books, 2001.

The time frame of the selected 50 masterpieces presented here covers more than 2,500 years including early archaeological findings, via the great cultures of the African middle ages, to the traditional art of the 20th century. African artists were masters of their materials, whether casting in bronze, shaping terraacotta, working iron, carving wood or weaving cotton. Precious textiles, basketry, bead objects and carved ivory are included in this volume as well as high-status ancestral figures and cult statues.

Following a general essay, this book consists of four chapters, each beginning with a brief introduction to the area concerned: Central Africa, East and southern Africa, West Africa, and Mediterranean North Africa. (Egypt is the subject of a separate volume in this World Art Series.) Each of the "icons" chosen is accompanied by a description of its notable artistic and iconographic features. The result is an informative survey of African art, shown through a selection of its outstanding achievements.

128 pages, 80 color photos.