African Art

African Art is a digital survey of masks, figures and ceremonial objects from across the continent. This PDF edition is available for instant download after purchase. The book is written by Stefan Eisenhofer and edited by Norbert Wolf.

Drawing on museum collections and regional contexts, the book presents African sculpture as a significant contribution to world culture. It opens with an essay on the reception of African art among European modernists, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, André Derain, Franz Marc and Emil Nolde. The catalogue that follows covers objects from West, Central, East and Southern Africa.

Book Overview

Written by Stefan Eisenhofer, head of the African department at the Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich, and edited by art historian Norbert Wolf, this book combines an introductory essay with a visual catalogue. It moves from the impact of African sculpture on early twentieth-century modernism to a regional selection of objects, including masks, figures, headrests, and musical instruments. The catalogue entries identify regions, materials, dimensions, and present-day museum locations.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• An introductory essay on African art as a source of inspiration for modern European art, with quotations from Picasso, Matisse, Marc, Nolde, and Cocteau.
• Regional entries from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, and Madagascar.
• Objects from collections such as the Musée Barbier-Mueller in Geneva and the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian.
• A timeline outlining African art history from rock art in southern Africa around 25,000 BC to the spread of Islam in West Africa.
• Entries on power figures, royal arts, headrests, musical instruments, and everyday objects with detailed museum data.

Why This Book Matters

African Art documents the shift in Western perception of African objects from ethnographic curiosities to works of art. The book records the enthusiasm of early modernists and collectors, as well as the material qualities of the objects themselves. It remains useful for readers who want a concise, visually oriented introduction to African sculpture and its place in art history.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so there is no physical shipping. After purchase, you can access the file through your account. The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile phones, and most PDF reading software. Printing is not included as part of this digital edition.

FAQ

Q: How do I get access after purchase?
A: You will receive an instant download link after checkout, and the PDF will remain available in your account.

Q: Is a physical copy shipped?
A: No. This is a digital PDF edition, so no printed book is sent.

Q: Which devices are supported?
A: The PDF can be opened on Kindle apps, tablets, desktop or mobile devices with a PDF reader.

Begin exploring African Art today and add this illustrated survey to your digital library.