Introduction:
Through analysis of the influence of African art on modern western artists it is evident that during the early to mid twentieth century there was a large influx in art that utilized African styles. This occurred due to the influences that certain artists had from their travels to remote locations and the encounters that they had with the cultures there. The unique and often appealing aesthetics that they encountered caused them to reconsider the underlying particularities of African art. In doing so, they would inevitably co-opt these artistic styles into their own western traditions in order to develop wholly new forms of self-expression. These forms were predicated on the influence that these African traditions had on the various artists that used them. What was once considered to be primitive art by Westerners African art is now appreciated for its aesthetic value. This value is an important aspect of African art that has had major impact on the way that it has been adopted by the west and other communities. The underlying associations that people have with the art form demonstrate the adaptability of its form and function to particular social identities. The influence of African art on western artists is therefore evident through careful examination of the evolution of art created by individuals such as Paul Gauguin, Alberto Giacometti and Pablo Picasso.
Body:
The question of what can be considered African art is essential to establish in order to develop a coherent analysis of its influence on these artists. Through examination of these subjects it is apparent that there is a large challenge in understanding the level to which African art has influenced western culture. In developing the relationship between these aspects of influence it seems evident that there are specific challenges that are presented by the promotion of certain considerations. The relationship between African art and western artists should be considered in relation to the historic context of the continent itself. There are a diverse number of cultures and religions in Africa. These cultures provide a variety of sources to help develop the unique traditions that are evident within African artistic styles. In understanding the relationship between these cultures a more traditional understanding of these styles and the function that they have involved can be achieved. This has given rise to a large number of different aesthetic and artistic forms.
The term “African” generally applies to the south, west, and east parts of Africa, as well as Africans that have been disassociated through these areas such as African Americans. However, the term is often thought of as excluding the northern areas that have traditionally been associated with primarily different forms of culture and religion, such as Egypt and Libya. Furthermore, the artistic influences that are considered are generally those that promote a basic cultural appetite for the historic context of the African cultures that are considered to challenge western notions of art. This context is important to understand in relation to the underlying identities of those in the west that have adopted these forms of art the conception of their attitudes in relation to the associated elements of art that are co-opted for a specific purpose or function. The idea of African art can be understood in regards to not only the various cultural influences that have come together in order to create a unique and personal style, but also through analysis of the elements that can be said to be necessary for presenting art as being essentially African in nature.
In attempting to understand what the major elements of African art are it is important to develop a historic framework for establishing the nature and diversity of the various forms that should be considered. The most important elements in regards to understanding the general form of African art is the idea of independent and personal expression. Furthermore, the use of various subjects including humans, animals, and the natural world is also evident within these forms. The use of these characteristics is evident of a reverence for the objects and ideas that are incorporated into the art itself. This underscores an important social and cultural aspect of African art that has shaped and developed the lens and scope of the art throughout history. The resulting form is an expressive and symbolic ritualistic and ceremonial depiction of the stories and beliefs of the group or culture that the individual is a part of. The use of these techniques demonstrates an essential aspect of their society that is used in these events. These are used alongside basic techniques in order to develop symbolic representations of various important ideas or forms of knowledge.
Representations of personal experiences and aesthetics are an essential element in African art forms. The major elements of African art include a major inclination towards individual creativity and expression. This creates incredibly unique and psychologically interesting symbolic forms of art. Furthermore, the pieces are often abstract and unique, utilizing methods that create the models with exaggerated details. These exaggerations are often depictions of underlying sexual or psychological representations that create a source of profound reflection for western thinkers. In exaggerating these specific forms the artists are making subtle expressions regarding their persona, psychological, or social lives. This is an important aspect of their culture as it provides them the opportunity to develop a personal identity within collective in the communities that they are a part of. This demonstrates the need to further develop the relationship between this art and the notions of being human that are associated with their creation.
Another essential element of African art is the use of human and other realistic subjects within the various depictions that are presented. Humans are often the primary elements in these art forms, and they are often in the form of sculpture. These sculptures will, furthermore, present various distinct physical and emotional representations in the form of symbolism and physical exaggerations of the subjects. There are also often depictions of nature and animals as well as symbolic shapes and designs that represented the relationship between people and the natural world. This relationship is shown through the artistic and ceremonial depictions that are expressed through the use of tribal art. In looking at these forms of art it is evident that there is often a purpose to both the form and symbolism that is used in these forms of art, which presents an essential characteristic of the underlying value that is placed on the methods that are used. This presents an overview of the major elements involved in African art. The influence that African art has had on western art can be seen in the African elements that are reflected in western art forms.
In researching these elements of African art, it is essential to develop a framework for understanding the relationship that this art had with their societies. This is true in both everyday social and cultural life as well as important sacred events. This demonstrates that an important element of African art is that the pieces were considered “sacred objects harboring the life force of an ancestor or nature spirit and had power to cure illnesses or harm enemies” (Strickland 22). These objects were often used in rituals and other important social events. Furthermore, the aesthetic principles that were used in order to create them demonstrates the major challenge of interpreting the individual representations that are apparent. In looking at an example, a better idea of how specific styles and features were utilized by African artists in order to develop important ritualistic and sacred objects.
One example can be seen in the creation of a sacred object used in the ceremonies of African tribal culture. The Ukagleu (Fig. 1), or mask, created sometime between1775 and1825 demonstrates and important and sacred object in African culture. These were utilized in order to hide the performer's true identity in order to protect them from evil. These works often used stylized or oversimplified human forms which were developed through the use of various cutting techniques that allowed them to raise or lower certain aspects of the mask's features. This demonstrates the extent to which the aesthetic styles and features of these objects were presented in order to develop important spiritual art that were utilized in their cultural ceremonies and traditions.
In looking at the history of African Art it is apparent that there is a long and rich history that stretches far into history. Pieces of African art that have been found go back for thousands of years. These artistic representations were often considered early on by western explorers that encountered them to be crude and unrefined. They often viewed the personal representations and abstract, often vague, forms of imagery and symbolism to be indicative of their underlying view of their societies themselves. This was primarily the result of the personal values of those that encountered the art forms. There was, in this sense, a small demand for these pieces in western culture. “African art could be seen in Paris from at least as early as the 1890s not only in the Ethnographical Museum but in junk-shops where 'fetishes' from the French colonies were often on sale” (Fleming 720). However, it was not until these art forms were used by western artists that they began to be adapted into western society more readily.
The adaption of African art forms seems to have been an essential element in the development of modern western art. This demonstrates how important the position of African Art has been to the development of modern western artists. These artists would eventually establish their work in unique ways due to the influence of African forms. Their use of African aesthetics and styles presents the beginning of a deeper relationship between the cultures of Africa and the west. This relationship is the result of various developments that occurred in relation to the perspective that people in the west had with Africa and its artistic and creative forms. While, historically, westerners often thought of African art as being uncultured and primitive newer interpretations that were reestablished after the adoption of African art styles by modern artists in the twentieth century caused a radical redefining of the ideas associated with these art forms.
During the late 19th century artists began to co-opt the artistic styles that they encountered through travel into their own unique forms. After artists such as Paul Gauguin began exploring exotic islands and Fauve artists such as visited Matisse, Derain, and Vlaminck began to associate the African art that they encountered into their work, they set the precedence for modern artists to begin to incorporate African artistic styles in their own creations. After this, many artists late into the twentieth century began to adapt these methods and utilize African forms of art within their own artistic creations. These expressions were often the result of encounters with native groups or people that had a profound impact on their view of self-expression and the relationship that the modern world has with the past. This is evident in reviewing the influences that African forms have had on various artists.
In looking at influences that African art forms have had on modern art a better idea of the developments that have occurred in the past century in regards to western and African artistic forms can be established. Many modern artists, including Alberto Giacometti and Pablo Picasso implemented these styles into their own artistic forms. In looking at the art of these two artists it becomes apparent that they were heavily influenced by the cultural art that they encountered during this time. Giacometti's sculptures present the exaggeration of the human form in sculptures and the art of Picasso demonstrates the abstract use of line and color in an expressive manner. These depictions can be seen to indicate an essential influence that occurred from African art.
The work by Giacometti, “Three Men Walking II” (Fig. 2), demonstrates a major influence from African sculptures in its form. Descriptions of his work indicate that it “resembles tribal African art” (Strickland 23). This seems to be evident in the use of basic human figures in extreme and expressive positions. Furthermore, it is described as using “elongated sculptures” (Strickland 23). Particular aspects of the bodies are elongated in order to present a more aesthetic and expressive form. In looking at the work, the abstract and general forms that are more depictions of the basic human figure than any real attempt to use any specific details seem to present a close relationship with African sources.
Picasso's work also demonstrates an influence from African art. In the painting “Mother and Child” (Fig. 3), for example, is evidence of the effect that the styles and qualities that are an important part of African art had on his own work. The artwork is said to evoke “associations of tribal magic, superstition, irrationality, darkness and horror” (Honour & Fleming 721). His work seems to have a very carnal aspect to it at this point. Analysis of the painting suggests that this was an “unmistakably anarchic gesture” (Honour & Fleming 721). This natural aspect to his work demonstrates the impact that African art has had on his work. Te work of these artists demonstrates evidence of an African influence due to the fact that they express a “cultivation of independence of mind, freedom of action and experience for its own sake” (Honour & Fleming 721). The influence of African art on these two western artists is therefore evident in these examples.
Conclusion:
In researching the influence that African art has had on modern western art the most important lesson has been a better understanding of the historic context in which African art came to be a part of western culture. While early on, it is evident that western culture did not have a very positive view of African art, the work of artists from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century had an important and lasting impact on the way that African artistic influences have been viewed. This research has generated new ideas through the establishment of this historic context. The relationship between modern art and African art that is apparent in the study demonstrates the importance that the African influence has had on art as it can be understood today.
In the modern world, expressive art is considered to be much more important due to these influences. Furthermore, it is evident that the idea of art has greatly expanded over the past century. These findings have worked to modify my original understanding of the influence of African art on western culture. While, initially, it seemed apparent that there was an African influence on modern art, the extent to this influence, and at which point in time that it began to occur, was not well-understood. In developing the study, these aspects of culture have been uncovered in order to provide insight into the the influence that African art has had on western artists.
Works Cited
Honour & Fleming. The Visual Arts: A History. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1995, 720-721. Print.
Picasso, Pablo. Mother and Child. 1921. Art Institute of Chicago Building, Chicago, Ill. Web.
Giacometti, Alberto. Three Men Walking II. 1949. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York. Web.
Strickland, A. The Annotated Mona Lisa. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1992, 22-23.
UKagleu (mask), (c.1775-1825). Dan, Rietberg. Museum, Zurich.
