
This new history of over 5,000 years of African art reveals its true diversity for the first time. Challenging centuries of misconceptions that have obscured the sophisticated nature of African art, Garlake focuses on seven key regions--southern Africa, Nubia, Aksum, the Niger River, West Africa, Great Zimbabwe, and the East African coast--treating each in detail and setting them in their social and historical context. Garlake is long familiar with and has extensive practical experience of both the archaeology and the art history of Africa. Using the latest research and archaeological findings, he offers exciting new insights into the works native to these areas, and he also puts forth new interpretations of several key cultures and monuments.Acknowledging the universal allure of the African art object, this stunning book helps us to understand more about the ways in which this art was produced, used, and received.
This work investigates the historical development and cultural significance of African art and architecture across five millennia, challenging long-standing misconceptions regarding the sophistication of these traditions. Peter Storr Garlake, an expert with extensive field experience in African archaeology, synthesizes recent research and physical evidence to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the social and historical contexts of these diverse artistic outputs. The text moves beyond traditional Eurocentric interpretations to present a nuanced analysis of regional developments.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the breadth of African material culture. Readers often note the clarity of the prose, which balances academic rigor with accessibility for those new to the subject matter.
Page Count:
216
Publication Date:
2002-07-18
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192842617
ISBN-13:
9780192842619
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