The History of African Art

Suzanne Preston Blier

Art Essentials

‘Suzanne Preston Blier highlights the extraordinary richness of Africa’s visual culture … I applaud the extraordinary artists and creativity featured here’

King Aderemi Adedapo (Yoruba, Nigeria); Convener General, Council of Traditional African Leaders

This indispensable introductory guide explores the art of the African continent from its early origins over 75,000 years ago to the contemporary, set in the context of postcolonial debates, the restitution of cultural objects, and the challenges of the present. This enormous and complex field of study, once under-appreciated by the Western art world, is now of global importance and an essential subject of education in art history.

For ease of reference and analysis, leading African art expert Suzanne Preston Blier has structured this guide chronologically into meaningful chapters covering ancient art, the Middle Ages, the Early Modern period, the colonial era and contemporary art. She addresses core, continentwide themes in African visual and cultural expression, including trade, empire expansion, gender, the body and representations of power. Important regional artistic expressions are also explored, such as the cultures of Mali (the Western Sudan), Nigeria (the lower Niger and Benue area), the Congo Basin and various nomadic populations across the continent.

Written from an inclusive, modern perspective, focusing not only on royal traditions but also the broader global history of the continent and its artistic practices, this is an excellent introduction for students, museum visitors and anyone with an interest in fine art, African history and cultural studies.

See all the other titles in the Art Essentials series so far at: thamesandhudson.com/art-essentials

Benoy K. Behl is an art historian, filmmaker, and photographer known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past forty-six years. He has taken over 53,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage and made 145 documentaries on art and culture.

225 illustrations

25.0 x 19.5cm

256pp paperback

ISBN 978 0 500 296691

October

£30.00