Art Flashcards

 Interrelationship between Europeans and Africans and the impact of the relationship on artistic production.
(15 th -16 th centuries)
 Portugals early role in the slave trade set the stage for greater powers like Great Britain and Holland who would take over as the dominant force in the 17 th century
 “The scramble for Africa”
A period of intense and aggressive colonization of
African states by European powers began in the 1880’s

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Decolonization and Post Colonial Art
Imperial Control in Africa began to Decay in the 1950’s
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The most lucrative market for contemporary art was
Europe
This period was especially challenging for African artists; most Europeans expected African art to be primitive, tribal and uninfluenced by western ways.
Materials acquired by Europe in earlier days had ceased creating a change in media for some.
Artists responded to the situation in a variety of ways…..
Some abandoned reference to traditional ways and materials indigenous to the land.
Some adapted their forms as they incorporated newly available materials.

16th century ivory 'saltcellar’
Can be seen as a sort of “Tourist Art” collected by
Portuguese travelers to bring back to the wealthy
Clients who financed their voyages.
Hybrid between cultures because…..
Ivory carvers from Africa used imagery from
Both Africa and Europe to make these more
Enticing to the European market.
A status piece displayed in homes of the wealthy to show wealth and power of the family.
Dogs and snakes are represented in high relief, both are considered to have strong connections to the spiritual world in African Culture.

Sapi-Portuguese Refers to
The African region of Sapi
As it was discovered by and
Influenced by the early
Portoguese Slave traders.

The Portuguese found skilled artists
Working in the Benin Kingdom along
The western coast of Africa.
Portuguese people referred to the Kingdom
As the Beny Kingdom.
Copper and Brass were important to the
People of Benin and most of the artwork
From the region was made of cast metal.
In 1897 the British attacked Benin and
Conquered the very powerful region.
Benin had taken over many neighboring
Regions prior to the British takeover.

After the British takeover many of the
Art pieces were sold to British Museums
Many of the works of art were created
For use in rituals and for display on
Alters.
This plaque is a depiction of important
Benin leaders and fighters.
The scale and relief of each figure conveys a message of rank.
The largest figure being most important.
The very ornate regalia is also a sign of wealth and power.
It is still argued that some of these pieces should be returned to the native land from British Museums.

Location: Coastal Area of
Ghana
The Fante region
Each group in the Fante region has it’s own organized military. Flags were used to specify between groups.
Flags were used to intimidate neighboring enemy groups.
This Flag, significant for it’s
Hi“Story” It is a good example of the interaction between
British and West African cultural groups.
As sa- WAR Fo – People
Highly organized Military
Groups in the region.
Newark Museum

 The Yoroba People put great importance on dress to convey wealth and power.
 The people of Yoruba would trade slaves to European countries for Beads and other luxury items to adorn the most powerful in the region.
 Imagery conveyed important leaders in the region.

Under French Rule prior to British
Colonization.
Guro People not ruled by Kings, instead
Overseen by a group of elders.
Not an aggressive group of people, mostly focused on agricultural production.
Masks created for spiritual rituals and
Performances for entertainment..
Most masks are carved from wood and
Painted.
Hybrid Because-
The lower portion is traditional in construction and imagery.
The upper portion uses materials acquired during European trade.
The upper portion also depicts contemporary imagery only seen post colonization by means of imported
Chromolithographs.
Face Mask Guro People
Mid 20 th Century

Fading Cloth 2005
Created by El Anatsui
Ghanaian Artist
His Message-
WHAT IT MEANT TO BE AFRICAN
In a post colonial Society
Began to emerge as a major artist
In the 1970’s
Made of Flattened Bottle caps and
Scraps of metal
Meant to be hung with folds to
Accentuate texture and luminosity.
Traditional Weaving techniques
Juxtaposed with modern materials
Found in West Africa Post colonial error

 A look at Commodities and Trade in China India and
North American Colonies in relation to the height of the British Empire.
 One constant here is that all Artists are trying to meet the needs of European Patrons.
 Britain was focusing on trade and acquiring necessities such as teas and spices and other luxury goods, including works of art.

Southern China 18 th Century
Hybrid because….
A combination of Chinese
Expertise (The use of
Porcelain) with European design and Imagery.
Viewed as being exotic yet still demanded some familiar
European imagery.
One of a set of fifty plates
Created for
Leake Okeover and his wife
Mary Nichol. Aristocrats from England
Design is a family code of arms .

Common Indian Nightjar
India 18 th Century
Company Painting (Kampani)
A group of artists painting imagery that
Reflects a typical sight in India, yet painted
In a style that Europeans were looking for.
Eiteenth and Ninteenth Century equivelent
To tourist art”
A collection of Knowledge and carful recorded observation
Possession of a painting of particular place is ones way of asserting control over that
Place as in the colonization of a country.

Paul Revere
By John Singleton Coplay, 1768
Highly respected portrait painter
North America
Painted PRIOR to his famous
Midnight ride.
The painting was created to celebrate Reveres talent
And work as a metal smith artist.
Here he holds a teapot
(central Motif)
The imagery is significant in that
It refers to the tea trade and the wearisome relationship between
Britain and the colonies .
Possible political undertones

 A tool used to assert Colonial Power.
 A combination or Fusion of Gothic, Classical and traditional styles indigenous and imported materials were evident in many of the buildings that were erected around the globe during the British Empire.

British Architect Frederick William Stevens, 1887 d
Mumbai India, Formerly Bombay
Main Railway station in Mumbai, named to celebrate the
Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Completed in 1888.
Combination of European and Traditional Indian
Architecture.
Statue at top or the crown is a symbol of Progress, to represent colonial rule.
The entrance is flanked by symbols of European and
Indian Power.

Royal Exhibition building Joseph Reed, 1880
Melbourne, Australia

 This building was constructed to celebrate the
Melbourne International Exhibition and was also used for the centennial Exhibition, which celebrated 100 years of European settlement in Australia.
 A combination of Gothic and Classical church architecture.
 The building and the Exhibits held there were intended to highlight European ideas about progress.

 One of the tallest wooden churches in the world
 A successful hybrid between traditional European style done in a manner that is appropriate to it’s new
Caribbean setting.
 Anglican Church designed by celebrated British
Architect illustrates the importance of the Anglican
Church in Colonial rule.

 A close look at 6 artists whose works were influenced by or a reaction to Imperial rule, colonization or decolonization.
 “History painting” is most popular Genre in Europe.
 The “Noble Savage”
A romantic idea or vision of what the native peoples were like in the exotic colonized lands.

 A “history painting” depicting William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania.
 Depicts a legendary meeting between William Penn and the Lenape Indians. A treaty to pay the Indians fabrics and goods for their land.
 Painted 100 years after the event took place
 Thomas Penn, son of William Penn commissioned the painting to help his reputation which was oppressive and abusive towards Native Americans.
 Penn Treaty with the Indians, Benjamin West 1771-72

The painting suggests a harmonious relationship between The people of Tahiti and
The British. There is no interaction between the people themselves but the
Composition suggests a calm and peaceful scene.
The native boats and people are in the foreground of the painting creating
A linear perspective, leading the
Viewers eye to the British boats
Calmly nestled in the background.
(V formation “framing” the British
Boats.
An atmospheric perspective is used
To create a crispness in the foreground
Contrasting the slightly out of focus
Background in the mountains.
The landscape was partially invented
Manipulated by the artist to create
An exotic feel. The volcanic mountains
Of Tahiti could not be seen from any
Coastline in reality.
The painting is Romantic and idealized to portray a colonization as in a positive light.
Reference to Madonna and Child…a Classical reference in European artistic training,
Can be seen with the woman and her baby in the foreground. The woman is shirtless
Depicting an exotic and Native style on the old classic.(hybrid)

 A critical View of European Domination, not idealized or romanticized as we’ve seen in the paintings by West and Hodges. His Impressionist style can be compared to Claude Monet. But when one gets a closer look you can see the desperate hands breaking the water.
 Used to cause controversy and influence the public to join abolitionists in stopping the Transatlantic slave trade and abusive chattel slave trading.
Slave Ship Turner, 1840

Purple and Rose: The Lange
Leizen of the six marks
James Abbott McNeill Whistler,
1864
Focus of the painting is on
Chinese imports created exclusively for European market. Whistler was a collector of Chinese Wares. The ones seen here are of his private collection.
North American Born traditionally schooled in Europe.
Not a fan of “history Painting”
Whistler was more of an impressionist. Creating mood with light and color.

Lady Receiving Visitors The Reception

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 Lewis, known for highly detailed paintings providing a glimpse of distant lands.
Invisible brushstrokes
Member of the royal academy
Primary medium was Watercolor and oils
Lived in Cairo
All attention focused on the lady of the house
Attention to detail about the relationship between the lady of the house and her many servants.
Gazelle was a popular animal in Egypt representing female beauty
“Lady Receiving Visitors” Lewis, 1873

“The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters”
Yinka Shonibar, 2008
Large ScalePhotograph fashioned after Goya’s Etching from 1799
Almost an exact replica with emphasis
On the clothing.
The clothes are influenced by popular
Dutch Wax cloth prints created by
England specifically marketed for Africa.
1799 meets 2008 with political
Commentary and criticism.
The text on the desk is in French
Translation:
“Do the dreams of reason produce monsters”
Suggesting that the imposition of the
Enlightenment ideals during colonization may in fact create a few demons--such as dictators "democratically" voted into power.

Goya’s, 1799
“The sleep of Reason Produces Monsters”
Etching
The artist's critique of his period's political and social vices.

Another example of Shonibars work….focus is on the Dutch Wax Cloth