The History of African Art (Art Essentials) (Art Essentials, 19)

This comprehensive guidebook provides an in-depth overview of African art from prehistoric times to the present day, covering various themes and regional expressions.

With 121 color illustrations, it is an excellent resource for students, museum visitors, and anyone interested in fine art, African history, and cultural studies.

The book explores the art of the African continent from its early origins over 150,000 years ago to contemporary times, set in the context of postcolonial debates, the restitution of cultural objects and artifacts, and the challenges of the present.

Structured chronologically into manageable chapters, it covers ancient art, the Middle Ages, travel and trade, encounters with Europe in the age of exploration, the colonial era, the rebuilding of the continent in recent times, and contemporary art.

The book also addresses core, continent-wide themes in African visual and cultural expression, such as the life cycle (children, initiation, motherhood, religion), the body, and representations of power dynamics.

With an inclusive, modern perspective, it focuses not only on royal traditions but also the broader global history of the continent and its artistic practices.