African forms

by Laure Meyer

Illuminates an aspect of African art that has largely been neglected by other books. African sculptures and art can be difficult to decipher because they are more than tokens of "art for art's sake." African art is often based on religious and philosophical values. It is created not just for the patron but for the entire community, using a language of form to help the society to understand what cannot otherwise be put into words. Through an enlightening analysis of some continent's most emblematic artifacts, this book decodes African art by putting it in the context of the broader culture. It is thematically organized around key motifs to help you fully understand African art.