Early Modern Art and Africa

Did some Avante- Garde European artists and The School of Paris view African Art for inspiration?  During that time period many African pieces were in pawn shops, private ownership and shown in galleries as curiosities.  I say, unquestionably, there is some symbolic relation between Early Modern art and Africa. For example, I believe artists Henri Mattise and Pablo Picasso were influenced by African objects during this time period when thousands of items were being introduced to Europe, filtered through France and other regions of the world by way of Colonial Power and their establishment in Africa. Although, World War I began in 1914 the influence of African art was already circulating through parts of Europe and later the U.S.

Map of Africa

  

Note: Shaded area under Colonial Power

FAUVISM began in 1905 after an exhibit held at the Autumn Salon in Paris. The artists’  random use of colors and style was to astound the observer both visually and mentally.

Mattisse was the leader of the fauves and in reading I learned he was also a collector of African art. Could it be possible that some of his works of arts may have been inspirations drawn from African art. Albeit, both Mattisse (Fauvsim) and Picasso (Cubism) denied any influence of African art for inspiration in some of their works.

How did African works arrive to be in exhibits? During the 19^th century the Colonial powers and their presence in Africa was detrimental to the African culture. Adversely impacting the early modern art movement. How exactly did this occur?  Many African traditional and ceremonial works from various ethnic groups of  Africa, such as the Fang tribe  under Colonial Control were collected, or forcibly took and then exploited.

In the 19^th Century (January 1, 1801 – December 31, 1900) and the 20th Century (January 1, 1901 and December 31, 2000) countless African objects arrived in Europe and  filtered through France. This is the within the time frame, historically where artists such as Matisse and Picasso saw African exotic carvings and mask like pieces. Like many artists who are introduced to a new style or medium they sometimes try to emulate that style into some of their own works of art.

What do you think… compare the following works.

Sailor I, 1906 Henri Matisse

This piece has softer rounded lines with muted color.

The Sailor II Also in 1906 Henri Mattise

This work lacks a facial expression (mask like) and has sharp defined lines with theatrical colors.

CUBISM – and its relation to African Influence?

Pablo Picasso 20th Century artist lived (1881 – 1973)

It is interesting that many of Picasso’s exotic works were often exhibited in tandem with African works. They seem to have complemented one another very well. Like Mattise, Picasso also had an extensive collection of African objects.

Below is a painting by Pablo and for further comparison I selected an African mask from the (Fang tribe)

Bust of Man 1908, by Pablo Picasso

Louvre Museum, Wooden Fang Mask Place made: Gabon, Africa collection of André Lefèvre

I believe Pablo may have came across other types of African masks beside the Fang tribes.  Note, the narrow thin nose of the Fang Tribes mask, yet the Bust of Man has a chiseled wider nose Pablo’s painting may very well have been merged from two styles of  African tribal  mask carvings.

Did you feel that some works were merged into one art form?

Do you feel the African culture received credit from European artists or were they marginalized?

What do you think about the impact traditional African and ceremonial pieces had on certain Early Modern art works?

For those who would like to learn further about the role African traditional works and their connection with Avant -Garde please view the following video. http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/video/collections/aaoa/african-art-came-to-new-york.aspx 

Program Information  In conjunction with the exhibition African Art, New York, and the Avant-Garde (on view November 27, 2012–September 2, 2013  Recorded June 21, 2013

 

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aima/hd_aima.htm

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/te_index.asp?i=Africa

http://www.genuineafrica.com/Fang_Mask_34.htm#HomeTop

http://www.henri-matisse.net/paintingssectionone.html

http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/video/collections/aaoa/african-art-came-to-new-york.aspx

Arts and Culture 3^rd Edition by Benton and DiYanni