West African Art

West African Art Emphasizes…

• Sculpture and the Human Form• Functionality – Art as a component of music,

dance, ritual, social life.• Anthropomorphism - the attribution of human

characteristics to animals, gods or non-living things.• Zoomorphism – the attribution of animal

characteristics to humans, gods or non-living things.• Nonlinear scaling – patterns of larger design

repeated in details

Motif1. A recurring subject, theme, idea,

etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work.

Examples: “The motif of the victorious underdog in American literature.” “The motif of the Good Shepard in Christian Art.”

2. A distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design.

Abstract vs. Realistic• Realistic/Representational:

appearing true to life according to the way we see nature

• Abstract: does not represent natural forms; may look distorted

General Art VocabularyMedium/ Media• The materials used to create the image• Typical African media: Wood, ivory,

stone, metal, leather, clayProportion• The comparative size of different

elements within a compositionSymmetry • Correspondence of elements on opposite

sides of a composition.

Yoruba Ram’s Head MaskNigeria17th Century

Divination Cup19th CenturyPalm Nuts cast into cupUsed by Yoruba priest for prophecy

Divination Cup19th CenturyPalm Nuts cast into cupUsed by Yoruba priest for prophecy

Yoruba VesselNigeria17th Century

Veranda Post of Mounted Warrior and Kneeling Woman

Benin Bronze Plaque Depicting Chieftain Flanked by Warriors14th – 16th CenturyWest Africa -- Benin

Benin Bronze Plaque Depicting Chieftain Flanked by Warriors -- detail

Compare: Qaddafi with Female Bodyguards, Western Diplomat

Compare: Poster “Triumph of Lenin” 1933

Comparison – Poster of Chairman Mao with Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America

Ceremonial Sword

Yoruba Bracelet

Yoruba King, 15th Century, Nigeria

Art Vocabulary Abstraction Medium Shape

Line Color Texture Stasis/Dynamism

Elements INTENTMotif Gaze Focal Point