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.
No. bk290 (Hardvover)
Price:
$39.95 |
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