The history of African art is a deep and complex one, spanning centuries and encompassing a wide variety of cultures, styles, and media. It is not possible to trace the history of African art in full here, but it is possible to provide a brief overview of some of the major influences on this vast continent.
Early History: The earliest known examples of African art date back to around 8,000 BCE and come from the Nok culture in what is now Nigeria. These works were primarily made from terra cotta, depicting human figures with stylized facial features. This style was later adopted by other cultures across Africa.
Ancient Egyptians: Ancient Egypt had a profound influence on African art throughout its long history. One of the most famous pieces of Egyptian art is the Great Pyramid at Giza, which was constructed in around 2560 BCE.
This massive structure was built using limestone blocks that were intricately carved with hieroglyphic symbols and images of gods and pharaohs. This same style can be seen in many other ancient Egyptian monuments, including tombs and temples.
The Axumite Empire: The Axumite Empire flourished in what is now Ethiopia between 100 BCE and 700 CE. During this time period, they developed an impressive artistic tradition that included stone sculptures depicting kings and gods as well as metalwork such as jewelry and weapons. Their craftsmanship was so advanced that they even created coins out of gold for trade purposes.
The Kingdom Of Benin: The Kingdom Of Benin (located in modern-day Nigeria) was an important center for African art from the 14th to 17th centuries CE. During this time period, they created intricate bronze sculptures known as “Benin Bronzes” which depicted historical events or honored powerful rulers. These sculptures were often decorated with ivory or cowrie shells for additional embellishment.
Modern Art Movements: In the 20th century, modern art movements began to emerge across Africa as artists sought to break away from traditional styles and experiment with new forms of expression. In Kenya, a group known as “Gikuyu Expressionists” used abstract shapes to create colorful paintings that explored themes such as identity and social change while in South Africa “Cape Town Colorists” used vivid colors to depict scenes from everyday life.
The history of African art is vast and complex; however, it can be traced back thousands of years through archaeological evidence as well as more recent artistic expressions such as modern-day sculpture or painting movements.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it can be said that the history of African art is incredibly deep and varied – stretching over thousands of years through myriad cultures with their own unique styles and media employed in their artwork. From ancient Egyptian sculptures to modern day painting movements – African art has always been an integral part of the continent’s culture throughout its entire existence.