Art Flashcards ionicons-v5-c

Traditional palaces were built as...

A grouping of raffia pole buildings

True or False: Historical data from the early colonial era are pictures and documents

TRUE: In fact the pictures and detailed documents help people understand the traditional palace architecture

The palace served as as living quarters for the:

The FonHis many wives His children The male servants

How far could a tourist usually go in the palace?

Tourists were usually restricted to the public main hall space

The Queen Mother is...

The Fon's first or favorite wife

What is the queen mother charged with?

Day to day running of the palace

True or False: The building of the interior palace is square in shape and very large

True: The kings subjects would gather for markets and religious gatherings.

The palace holds the...

Royal treasury

The most elaborate buildings would have

Carved pillars (these support the roofing system)High decorated door jams Lintels Window sill framing

What was the main causes of traditional palaces falling into repair?

Flammable material, palaces often caught fire and burned to the ground.

If a palace were to burn down what would the architects do?

They would usually rebuild over the same site

True or False: The Fon believes the royal grave shrine is his most valuable treasure?

False: The Fon believes the palace to be his most valuable treasure because he decorates it. For example: the architecture of the palace demonstrates his wealth and status.

Contemporary palaces are now to be made of _________

Mud, brick, and metal room constructions

If you were to ask a architect what he thought of on the materials of the Contemporary palace (on what it was made of) he would tell you...

The architect would tell you that the mud, brick, and metal room constructions were aesthetically inferior to the flammable materials but they were more pragmatic (sensible)

The Royal Palace of Foumban - age wise- is considered

One of the oldest palace sites in Africa

Today the Palace of Foumban is the home of the:

Nineteenth Century ruler of the Bamun Dynasty

Adolf Diehl

Photographed the Bamun Palace extensively between 1909 - 12

How many people can the palace and the adjoining building house?

3,000 people. This includes 1,200 wives and 350 children

How is the main entrance marked?

It is marked by:A three-story rounded tower that has a conical roof.A series of windows piercing each level

What is flanking the entrance of the palace and how many of these structures are there?

There are wings flanking the palace and there are two of them

How high are the wings of the building?

They are three stories tall

What does the arcade have?

3 simple rounded arch forms

Which story is the most elaborate?

The second; it has a scalloped arch design

The third level wings are __________________ in appearance

rectangular; there are set slightly back and have three arched windows

Although the palace has changed over time both in configuration and in materials (non-flammables), what ABOUT the palace suggest the kings (Fon's) power?

large scale and the symmetrical orientation*In other words its big and it's pretty much made up of similar parts without looking too out of place Historical object including: Regalia. weaponry sculptures, masks, and beaded thrones

The Nok Sculpture has what type of form?

Cylindrical. It also has has a series of reliefs on it.

The Nok Sculpture in the Analysis measures approximately

Twenty One by Nineteen and a Half by Nineteen and a Half inches. Or: 21 in x 19 1/2 in x 19 1/2 in

What are five things the Nok Sculpture shows in its narrative scenes?

- Images of Mothers with their children- Activities of everyday life - The processing of grain- People carrying water - People Cooking food

True or False: The figures on the Nok are in a straight line

False: They are arranged on different varying levels of ground level

What do snakes represent in African culture?

Fertility and the Ancestors.

True or False: The snakes is undamaged

False: The snakes is damaged around the head.

The Larger figures on the Nok Sculpture represent...

These represent typical physical features of Nok Characters.

Name five characteristics that the large figures on the Nok sculpture represent:

Stylized eyes Stylized eyebrows Exaggerated lips Flared nostrilsBroad foreheads Beaded Necklaces

Archaeological evidence on the Igbo Ukwu's home in the 9th and 10 CE suggests...

It was a major center It was abruptly left perhaps to some disaster Its function was probably for the King or his Priest Class It was the heart of Igbo Culture

If you were to give a bowl of the Igbo Ukwu to an Antique Specialist they would tell you

The Bronze work is unlike Benin or Ife works. It is unique and it's works have never been repeated.

The Igbo Ukwu bowls that were found are

Crescent shaped and bronze

How did the man who found the bronze items discover them?

He found them when he was digging a hole in order to install a water tank on his property

Stone Age Petroglyphs, Namibia

c. 4,000 BCE-c. 1 CE

Nok Sculpture, Nok Culture, Nigeria

1st century BCE1st century CE

Brass Head, Yoruba, Ife Nigeria

9th-10th centuries

The transatlantic slave trade.

16th-19th centuries

Plaque, Edo Peoples, Nigeria

Mid 16th-17th centuries

Lyre (Kissar), Nubia, Sudan

Late 19th century

Where does the name of the sculpture come from?

It comes from the Fang ancestor cult (or Bieri)

How would this sculpture have been used?

The base would be filled with relics and used in ancestor worship rituals

What did Robert Goldwater observe?

The Great Bieri was truly special. It embodied Fang sculpture, making it a classic of african art.

What were the measurements of the Fang sculpture?

18 5/16 x 9 3/4 x 6 5/8 in. The largest Fang head of the time.

What material was used to make the sculpture?

It is made of wood and is polished with liberal amounts of palm oil. (the oil did not preserve it. It gave it a dark, rich, burnished look)

True or False: The wood to make this sculpture was light-brown

False:A worn away patch in the back exposes the red-brown wood underneath.

What are Reliquary objects?

containers that hold relics of the dead

Why are remains of the dead collected?

Relics of important relatives were believed to be imbued with the powers that the people had during their live. These powers could be drawn to help the living

What forms do reliquary vessels take?

baskets, boxes, and bundles

What do reliquaries hold?

bones and other powerful substances

What is sculpted on the top of the container?

a head (typically carved in wood but also possibly fashioned in metal)

True or False:The heads were intended to be portraits of the deceased

FalseThe heads served as protectors of the relic materials inside

How were the reliquaries stylized?

To the conventions of the specific culture for which they were created

What were the primary uses of reliquaries?

-used as methods of consultation with the dead prior to undertaking any significant event- initiation rituals

Where do the Fang people of Gabon live?

primarily in the rainforests of Southern Cameroon and Northern Gabon

What does contemporary African art deal with?

Cultural, religious, social, and political past of Africa and modern concerns

What is 20th and 21st century African art characterized by?

Concerns with issues of postcolonialism

What themes are expressed by African contemporary art?

Past, Present, Future, Identity, Culture, and History

William Kentridge

- Born in South Africa in 1955- Grew up with progressive attitude towards race and sense of guilt

Felix in Exile (1993-94)

- Written by William Kentridge from South Africa- Obscure in meaning - Visualizes social and individual traumas experienced by those living under apartheid

What did early photographs of Africa capture?

Continent's peoples, animals, and landscapes

Aida Muluneh

- Ethiopian-born photographer - Work assists in changing perceptions about people of color

Spirit of Sisterhood (2000)

- Taken by Aida Muluneh in Ethiopia - References world of African women today and their long history and resilience over time

What do traditional Ghanian funerary practices focus on?

Creation of terracota figures used to represent the ruler and members of his court

Ata Owoo

- Carpenter that inspired fantasy coffin when he was commissioned to create a palanquin in the shape of a cocoa pod for a local chief

What are common forms of fantasy coffins?

Consumer products, animals, fruits, and vegetables

How would the fantasy coffin in the Art Reproductions booklet be described?

- Mercedes Benz sedan - Important status symbol - Still functional with interior cavity lined with white silk - Created in 2000

What is assemblage?

Type of collage in three dimensions where artists use everyday objects rather than traditional art materials to create their work

El Anatsui

- One of the best known contemporary African artists - 32 year career as artist and teacher- Recently broadly recognized - Primary material is recycled aluminum bottle caps wired together to create large wall hangings

Between Earth and Heaven (2006)

- Assembled by El Anatsui from Ghana- Suggests traditional kente cloth in patterning and coloration

What does art serve as?

A window onto culture

Which works in the Art Reproduction booklet help develop the idea of the concept of kingship across Africa and how it has been understood and manifested over time?

The Great Zimbabwe, Royal Palace at Foumban, Finial of Royal Scepter, Brass Head with beaded crown, and Benin plaque

What were works like these hung on?

Pilars through the palace with nails punched directly through them.

What were their functions?

Serve as courtly decoration, showing the king's wealth, power, and character.

What is this work made of and how large is it?

It is made of copper alloy, and measures 1715/16 x 133⁄4 x 31⁄2 inches.

What does the Plaque depict?

Two musicians and a page holding a ceremonial sword as they flank a high-ranking warrior.

Who is the largest figure on this Plaque?

A man wearing an elaborate costume and holding various implements of war and royal status.

How did the king obtain materials for these works?

Through trade with Portugal. (Some Portuguese figures are referenced in the works)

What are the artistic styles of the characters of this piece?

The central figure is very high relief, and the lesser characters are more shadowy.

What did works like these employ to society of the time?

The rule of the King and his power, as well as the Hierarchal rule of the court in a propagandistic style.

What was Apartheid?

the enforcement of racial segregation in South Africa

How could William Kentridge relate to Apartheid?

He was a Jew growing up in a Christian society

Traditional Ghanaian funerary practice largely centered on what?

Terra-cotta heads or figurative statutes

What does William Kentridge's art resemble?

Kazimir Malevich's 1916 exhibition, The Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings.

What is the emotion behind Felix in Exile?

A feeling of longing and disconnect is present and is used to visualize the trauma caused by apartheid

What does the term "African Diaspora" generally refer to?

the worldwide community of peoples of African descent who live today in regions outside the continent itself

Early travel photographers in Africa

Charles Livingstone and John Kirk

Scenes from Every Land

A book written by the National Geographic Society (published in 1909)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny is quoted as saying:

"guardians and vehicles of African identity," who were expected to "have their 'feet in tradition and their mind in modernity.'"

N'Gone Fall (a feminist and an art critic during the 70s) is quoted as saying:

"from Cairo to Cape Town, Dakar to Djibouti, women lived in a male-dominated society and learned how to deal with it."

A quote by Kenneth Montague:

"moved by distorted media images of the Ethiopian famine, Muluneh took up the camera to present another side of the story."

D.E.S.T.A. FOR AFRICA

Developing and Educating Society Through Art (for Africa). Is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008.

20th & 21st century African art is characterized by what?

Its concerns with issues of postcolonialism

"African Diaspora"

refers to worldwide community of peoples of African descent who live today in regions outside the continent itself.

Kentridge's Felix in Exile is a visualization of what?

social and individual traumas experienced by those living under apartheid.

Spirit of Sisterhood references what?

Modern African woman as well as their long history and resilience.

"Assemblage"

a type of collage in three dimensions, where artists use everyday objects rather than traditional art materials to create their work.

Early photographs of Africa reinforced what Western views?

superiority and a feeling that Africa was "dark" and "primitive" in nature.

"Apartheid"

systematic enforcement of racial segregation and oppression in South African from 1948-1994

Where was Anatsui a professor?

University of Nigeria

Where did Anatsui get his BA and Postgraduate degree?

University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana

Define cassava

potato-like tuber

Where was Anatsui's work first seen in the U.S. in 1990?

Studio Museum in Harlem "Exhibition Contemporary African Artists: Changing Tradition"

Who currently owns "Between Earth and Heaven"?

Metropolitan Museum in New York

Who was Frank Willett?

Officer of the Nigerian Department of Antiquities

How were the bronze heads found?

A crew was digging foundation trenches for a construction project in Ife

How was the Brass Head created?

Lost wax casting technique

What does the Brass Head depict?

The Oni in his regalia

How big is the Brass Head?

Slightly under life sized

How is the king's face presented in the Brass head?

In a realistic though idealized way

What may have been the purpose of the holes?

To anchor a beard or veil to it

What may have been the heads' purpose?

Rituals such as a funerary rite

How are African works or art characterized?

Variation rather than similarity

How is Western African art distinct?

Visually, Physically, and Conceptually due to different political, religious, and social structures

Which countries are considered Western Africa?

Senegal, Guinea, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon

The people of Western Africa art are

not predominantly Bantu-speaking

What has Western Africa continued to experience in the Modern era?

Civil war and political instability often found in post colonial contexts

What effect did slave raiding have?

Huge numbers of people being captured and sold as goods- most enslaved peoples were of African ancestry

Why would most Western African communities fall?

Fought to maintain independence in the face of European incursions

After World War II, how did Nationalist efforts affect Western Africa?

Eventually bring independence back to the nations of Western Africa

why is our understanding of Nok culture speculation?

there was no written or oral history

when did the Nok flourish?

900 bce- 200 ce

why did people migrate to the Nok territory?

increasing droughts and expansion of inhospitable areas of desert in the north

what event coincided with the discovery of Nok sites?

the advent of major tin mining operations in the lowlands south of the Jos plateau

why were British expeditions sent into northern Nigeria?

to discover the source of tin ingots

what position did Bernard Fagg hold when he came to Nok region?

cadet administrator of mining operations

when and where did Bernard Fagg discover the Jemaa head?

1942, a mine in Jemaa (25 miles NE of Nok)

why did Bernard Fagg work with the local population?

to "gain their cooperation in reporting and preserving any artifact"

in 1952 what did Bernard Fagg establish?

a national museum in Jos focused on Nok material

what is the height range of Nok sculpture?

a few inches to almost life size

what are the terracotta works made of?

local clays mixed with rock, and gravel to add grit, so they don't break when exposed to high temperatures

what are some details that can appear on Nok sculptures?

tresses, beads, necklaces, and bracelets

how are large Nok terracotta figures constructed?

they were built up around a wooden structure that supported the clay during construction

why is the surface of Nok terracotta works smooth?

a slip of ochre, or a solution of decomposed mica shist was applied before firing

what do Nok figures represent?

social and economic lives of the societies that produced them

what do Nok figures depict?

rulers, priests, and other high ranking officials

in what places have Nok works been discovered?

shrines, sacred houses, and temple complexes

how are eyes of Nok figures represented?

segmented circles or triangular forms with strong arched eyebrows

what parts of the Nok figures are pierced?

ears, pupils, nostrils, and lips

how is the hair detailed?

buns, tresses, and locks

how are beads shown on Nok works?

body adornments in strands around necks, torsos and waists

what positions can Nok works be seen in?

sitting, kneeling, and crouching

Origin legend of kente cloth

Two hunters from the village of Bonwire discovered a spider spinning a web deep in the forest, watched the spider closely, and then produced a weaving of their own

Geometric patterns in kente cloth

squares, rectangles, diamonds, and zig-zag patterns

How is kente cloth traditionally produced?

In four-inch narrow strips, with geometric shapes woven along their entire length. These thin strips are then sewn together to create larger textile pieces.

Silk

Highly precious import material and served as an appropriate symbol of the king's status.

Kente cloth, today is made in?

A variety of natural and synthetic materials (cotton and rayon)

What are patterns associated with?

Particular proverbs and concepts such as kingship, creativity, and generosity

Western Africa includes

Senegal, Guinea, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and much of Nigeria

The Nok Culture left no

written or oral histories

Major tin mining began in

the lowlands south of the Jos plateau

Nok Culture started the tradition of

figurative sculpture in Sub-Saharan Africa

ritual practices connected to fertility

Igbo Ukwu

major center for Igbo culture

First Igno Ukwu bronze items were discovered in

1938, by a local man, Isiah Anozie

Yoruba Mythology describes Ife as the

center of the creation of the world and humanity

Ife

spiritual center of Yoruba culture

Oduduwa

creator of Ife and humankind

What is an example of a typical highly realistic bronze sculpture?

Brass head with a bearded crown and plume

Kingdom of Benin

one of the major West African powers until 19th century

What happened to the Benin Bronzes?

They were looted and removed to the British Museum during British Benin Punitive Expedition of 1897

Kente Cloth

one of the most highly recognizable cultural products of Africa

Asante

Highly successful militaristic culture, warded off European colonization for a time

Benin Bronzes

group of more than 1,000 commemorative plaques and sculptures that decorated royal palace of Benin

Oni

King in Yoruba culture

Lost-wax Casting

accomplished through both direct and indirect processes

The first bronze sculptures were created in

the island of Crete during the first half of the second millennium bce.

resulting sculpture are

hollow and yet very strong and materially stable.

indirect method

allows for the production ot multiples.

the bowl is covered with

geometric decorations.

the crescent-shaped bowl created using

created using the lost wax casting technique and ismade of leaded bronze.

the crescent-shaped bowl measures approximately

23⁄4 inches high, 53⁄4 inches wide, and 3 inches deep.

According to the British Museum, the bowl wasdonated by

F. W. Carpenter. Carpenter, who served as District Commissioner for the Awak region in Nigeria,

F. W. Carpenter. Carpenter visited

visited the site of Igbo Ukwu in 1939.

The Ife settlement is

a city of the Yoruba people, located in southwestern Nigeria.88

The city was most active between

the twelfth and fifteenth centuries,

How did Igbo Ukwu inhabitants learn about lost wax casting?

Ninth century Arab traders in the North

Early bronze works were generally

small scale and cast as simple forms

A simple mold consisted of

clay, liquefied with bronze

Lost wax casting allowed for

larger structures

How does the direct method of lost wax casting begin?

basic form developed in clay, over some sort of structural armature

Investment mold

clay outer casting

How is the object fired?

in a pit or kiln

What is poured down the funnel?

molten bronze, fills negative space

The resulting sculpture of a direct lost wax casting is

hollow, but very strong and stable

The indirect method allows for

production of multiples

A master mold is taken by

covering the sculpture in clay, allowing it to dry, then carefully cutting off into pieces

With the direct method

the original wax form is lost

The king serves a variety of roles:

Political leader and supreme spiritual figure, understood to be divine.

What is kingship in Africa marked by?

The use of specific material objects, including royal regalia.

Ivory was harvested from what?

The teeth and tusks of animals.

Where are the Yombe found?

In The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.

What does the Finial of a Royal Scepter depict?

A seated figure holding a horn or short scepter and raising an object to his mouth.

How is the king's face depicted in the Finial?

Wide, staring eyes, prominent nose, wide-open mouth, large lips and teeth.

What purpose did the Finial of a Royal Scepter serve in Yombe culture?

It was a key aspect in Yombe spiritual practice, establishing the king as a spiritual authority.

What is below the king in the Finial of a Royal Scepter?

A slave or enemy, with its head turned to the left.

What does the Nok Sculpture depict?

A series of narratives.

How are the Nok Sculpture narrative scenes arranged?

Arrayed as high relief forms around lower surface of the object.

What do the narratives of the Nok Sculpture depict?

Images of mothers with children, as well as activities of everyday life, such as processing grain, carrying water, and cooking food.

Name the countries referred to as Central Africa.

- southern Cameroon- Gabon- Congo Republic- Equatorial Guinea- Democratic Republic of Congo- northern Angola

What environmental factors define Central Africa?

- Hot and wet climate- Wide variety of landscapes- Drained by the Congo River- Bisected by the equator

Cultural groups included in the region are......

- Kongo- Fang - Chokwe- Yombe- Cameroon Grasslands peoples

Spiritual practices largely consist on rituals associated with what?

Initiation rites, veneration of the dead, and healing ceremonies.

How were most trade relations between Africa and Europe developed?

Through the buying and selling of slaves.

What caused the end of the slave trade era?

Abolitionist movements in both Europe and the United States.

Why was Africa so alluring to both European explorers and missionaries?

It was composed of an expansive, exotic landscape and had a massive non-Christian population.

Define the purpose of the Berlin Conference of 1884-85.

Divide Africa into regions allocated for European control ("Scramble for Africa").

List some of the aftereffects Africa had to deal post-colonialism?

- Vast environmental degradation - Suppression- Destruction of economic, political, and social systems- Corruption- Economic hardship

What aspects of Western culture still live in the culture of Africans today?

Languages and political and educational systems.

What is seen about the smaller relief figures of the Nok Sculpture?

Three men and three women, whose heads are presented fully in the round. Their arms are raised,and they hold what is described as a massive snake.

What are the typical physical characteristics of Nok characters?

Stylized eyes and eyebrows, exaggerated lips and flared nostrils, broad foreheads, and beaded necklaces.

Where can the snake on the Nok Sculpture be seen?

From the back in the upper left corner.

Where is the Igbo Ukwu region located?

Eastern Nigeria, approximately twenty-five miles southeast of the River Niger at Onitsha.

The evidence of wealth in the Igbo Ukwu region indicates what?

Residence of high-status individuals, possibly the priest class or the king.

What did traditional palaces in Cameroon consist of?

Groupings of raffia pole buildings

How are palaces of Cameroon constructed today?

Constructed with modern materials and decorated in a westernized style

The Royal Palace of Foumban is not only served as the home of the king, but also as...

A tourist attraction and display of historical royal objects

What is ivory used as in african culture?

A luxury material that is used to produce items for the royal class

What does the Finial of a Royal Scepter, ornamental flourish depict?

A figure, likely the king chewing on a hallucinogenic root in ritual

What does the king serve as in most african cultures?

Political and supreme spiritual leader / figure

What is the kingship in Africa marked by?

Crowns, jewelry, staffs, & swords

What does the Pwo mask indicate?

Ideals of the female beauty in Chokwe culture

What does the Minkisi serve as?

Receptacles to house spirits

What is Nkondi?

An aggressive form of a Minkisi

What does the Nkondi figure depict?

Chief, doctor, priest, & judge

What is the Nail Figure stubbed with?

Nails, screws, & metal blades

What does the Nail Figure represent?

The swearing of a vow and / or pact, or an attempt to eliminate an evil

What does the Nail Figure's swelled belly serve as?

The receptacle for the Nkondi's medicine

Colonization led to the destruction of...

Precolonial religious, economic, political, & social systems

What is the central area defined as?

The broad area drained by the Congo river system

Central Africa was the center of what two powerful kingdoms?

Lunda Empire & the Kingdom of the Kongo

Kongo

Bantu people who speak the common language of Kikongo

Kongo societies

Kakongo, Ngoyo, Loango, and Vungu

France

This country took control of the Republic of Congo

Portugal

This country ruled Angola

Belgium

This country ruled present day Democratic Republic of Congo

King Leopold II

Initiated Belgian rule in the form of the Congo Free State

Nkondi

typically used in rituals to discover and punish criminals. Used to avenge a wrong

Kavuna Simon

Kongo ethnographer that described the functions of nkondi

Minkisi

call upon spirits to cause or remove sickness in a man

Banganga

spiritual leaders in Kongo culture who serve as healers and mediums

Bilongo

medicine

The nkondi depicts the roles of:

chief, doctor priest, and judge

E. Visser

Missionary that collected the nkondi in 1903

How would the head be described as?

Highly simplified and stylized

What characteristics did the face show?

The face had a teardrop shape. The skull tapered down to a narrow chin.

How were the ears positioned?

simple knobs positioned high on the head

What characteristics did the hair have?

The hairstyle is similar to ekuma. A band of hair goes from the crown of the head to vertically on either side of the face. A third lock of hair goes down the back of the head.

What is a ekuma?

A wig-like headless worn by Fang warriors in the 19th century.

How did the eyes appear and what were they made of?

They appeared wide with a penetrating gaze. They were made of circular metal disks.

How did the nose look?

broad and elongated curves from the forehead. Was squared off at the bottom

How are the eyebrows described?

strongly arching with delicate incised lines.

How is the mouth described?

Horizontal line with slight swelling. (suggests wide mouth)

What does the head sit on?

a long cylindrical neck

What would the head originally be connected to?

a bark box containing skulls of at least 9 generations of family lineage

Why did they keep the skulls in the bark box?

These "nsek-bieri" allowed for protected transportation during Fang migrant period.

What characteristics let us know that the sculpture has been used?

The abrasions on mouth and chin, crack from crown of head to base of chin

What does the highly polish surface imply?

the application of oils and other materials overtime during ritual usage

Who first owned the sculpture?

Chilean poet Vincente Huidobro

Who did Vincente Huidobro sell it to?

French art dealer Paul Guillaume

Who did Paul Guillaume sell it to?

British sculptor Jacob Epstein

What happened to the sculpture after Epstein's death?

Robert Goldwater the sculpture for the Museum of Primitive Art in New York.

Where did the sculpture transfer to?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is one of the great masterpieces in the encyclopedic collection.

What two ways were african art looted?

Some were taken by military contexts, others were "collected" by missionaries to remove african "idols" from communities.

What are reliquary objects?

Containers that hold relics of the dead

Why are reliquary objects collected?

The bones and other relics of important relatives were believed to be imbued with the powers that those extraordinary people had during their lives

What kind of important relatives were bones and other relics kept?

Leaders, courageous warriors, village founders, artists or superior crafts workers, and fertile women

They are connected to the spirit world of the ancestors, to help and support the living

What forms do Reliquary vessels take?

Baskets, boxes, and Bundles

What do these reliquary vessels hold?

Bones and power substances

What are the head forms intended to be?

Protectors of the relic materials inside

Why do heads show a wide variety of decorative forms?

Depending on the conventions of the specific culture for which they were created

How are reliquary heads decorated in ritual activity?

With Feathers and decorative collars

What is the primary function of reliquaries?

Primarily used as methods of consultation with the dead

What were reliquary rituals intended for?

Elicit such communication for guidance and advice

Where did the Fang people of Gabon primarily live?

In the Rainforests of southern Cameroon and northern Gabon

What culture is the Fang people?

Bantu-speaking culture who were overwhelmingly Christianized

Where is the Great Bieri held?

Metropolitan Museum in New York City

Where does the name "The Great Bieri" come from?

The Fang ancestor cult: Bieri

How did The Great Bieri originally function?

Attached to a base form filled with relic objects

What did Robert Goldwater observe of the Great Bieri?

It is the embodiment of Fang sculpture and one of the great classics of African art

What was The Great Bieri polished with?

Liberally with Palm oil

How has palm oil affected The Great Bieri?

Preserved the sculpture and given it the rich, black, burnished surface

What is exposed by the worn out patina?

Raw redbrown wood underneath

Where are the ears of The Great Bieri placed?

Simple nobs placed high on the head

What does the elaborate hairstyle on The Great Bieri echo?

Ekuma- a wig-like headdress worn by Fang warriors in the 19th century

the leopard embodies

courage, strength, and cunning

In a ritual, the hand signifies

a man's power to achieve success in material and practical things

In a ritual the head signifies

a symbol of good fortune

Ivory are appreciated for the

preciousness of the material, quality of workmanship, and exotic nature of their origin

The Yombe people live in

Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo

The Yombe are organized into

Nine major clans

The finial of a royal scepter is

carved from elephant ivory

The Fon was usually

selected by his predecessor and one of the heads of the dominant families

After WWII the Cameroon Grasslands became a

United Nations Trust Territory

"Pre" historical means what?

"Before" history; Prior to the period of written records

What is considered a cultural bias?

The privileging of written records

Rock art is most prevalent in the southern and eastern sites of what countries?

Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Mozambique

What are some of the names of Western caves?

Lascaux, Pech-Merle, and Altamira

When compared to European rock shelters, African rock shelters are...

Relative shallow, open, smaller, and suggest narrative scenes

How are engraved images created?

Chipping or incising

Where are engraved images usually found?

Semi-arid plains of the interior

What are the petroglyphs categories?

Fine, hairline engravings carved into the rock surface; animal representations made using a "pecking" technique (stone is hammered into the surface of the rock to produce pockmarks; geometric forms

Where does the rock engraving in the packet come from?

Twyfelfontein Valley in Namibia, near the Brandberg Mountain

What is the most prevalent imagery in the Twyfelfontein Valley?

Elephants, rhinos, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes

What other animal images are present in the Valley?

Gemsbok, kudu, zebras, giraffes, springbok, lions, and other cats

How would the lion be described in the Stone Age Petroglyph depicted in the reproduction booklet?

Profile silhouette, distorted (5 digits instead of 4) prints are in profile, elongated tail which ends with print and angles at 90 degree angle

Who are the Shona?

The peoples who settled the plateau south of the Zambezi River (Southern Africa)

What is a "zimbabwe"? (or "zimbahwe")

In Shona culture, a judicial center or royal palace; Corresponds with the modern concept of a court;Over 300 such ruins (Great Zimbabwe is the largest)

What are the three main sections of the Great Zimbabwe?

the Hill Ruin, the Great Enclosure, the Valley Ruins

What was used as a symbol for Shona kings?

The bird (particularly the eagle/other raptors)

What is the Conical Tower?

A large tower form within the Great Enclosure wall; 30ft in height; Shaped like a grain bin - in Shona culture, rulers receive tribute in grain, which they then give out to their visitors and the poor; a symbol of the ruler's authority and generosity

What does the Great Zimbabwe's architecture ultimately represent?

The ruler's power over, as well as his responsibility to (the Shona believe the land belongs to the ancestors, and that the ruler only holds it in trust during his lifetime), the people.

What is the most common approach used to sort and arrange the material?

A geographic approach-carving up the continents into regions

What are the major regions of Africa?

Central, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.

Why is Northern Africa not included in the regions of Africa?

Because the art of Northern Africa, and Egypt in particular, has generally been told within the context of Western culture.

Objects made of what materials have often not survived the African climates?

Objects made of plant or animal materials, such as textiles, basketry, clothing, and wood

Central aspects of African art that we will see repeatedly are what?

Centrality of the human figure, visual abstraction, emphasis on continuity, a lack of concern about individual authorship, and the stress of functionality.

"Southern" Africa includes present-day...

Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho

"Southern" Africa includes many cultural groups, such as..

the San, Zulu, Swazi, Sotho, and Shona peoples

"Eastern" Africa includes present-day...

Sudan and South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Madagascar.

What goods were imported and exported of South Africa?

Iron goods and glass were imported, while gum, spices, and horn were exported across the Mediterranean Sea and to the Near East.

What is the title of the comprehensive report regarding the Lydenburg Heads?

"Unique Art Objects in the Iron Age of the Transvall, South Africa"

What major gathering is music used in?

feast, banquets, religious performances

How can music be preformed?

With the body, singing, clapping, stomping.

How does decorations affect the instument?

By influencing the sound the object makes, thus connecting the instruments ornamentation to the instruments's functionality.

What is modern day Nubia

Egypt, Sudan, Ethopia

How was Nubia divided?

Upper, Lower

How was ancient Nubia similar to Egypt?

Centered on the Nile River, and was split into two parts.

What does upper refer to?

Highlands in the southern most region

What does lower

the low lands in the Northern region

What is the border between Upper and Lower Nubia?

Modern day border between Egypt and Sudan.

What did Nubian culture rely on to bring rich soil to river banks?

Annual flooding, allowing agricultural production

Ancient Nubia was know as...

The gateway to Africa

What was significant about Nubia's Nile Valley?

It was the only dependable route across the Saharan desert to the Mediterranean Sea

Who did the Nubians trade with?

Greeks, Egyptians, Romans

What did the Egyptian art convey about the Nubians?

That Nubians ruled in the North.

How were Nubian figures depicted?

Jewelry, short hair, curly harisyles

How did Egyptians depict themselves

red-brown skins (males) yellow skin (females)

How was Nubian culture distinguished from Egyptian culture?

distinctive architectural forms, funerary rituals and pantheon of gods

Why were many Nubians relocated

The construction of the Aswan High Dam (1960-71) along the nile

How does Nubian people express their culture today?

Storytelling, music, literature

Where is the Lyre of Kissar from?

Nubia in Northern Sudan

Who holds the Lyre of Kissar?

the British Museum

Who is theorized to have held the Lyre of Kissar

A singer and spiritual healer

The lyre would have been what?

The lead instrument in the ensemble

What ceremonies would have the Lyre of Kissar been prefomed

weddings, harvest festibal, and ceremonies associated with the Zar cult

What are the dimensions of the Lyre of Kissar?

16 inches high, 45.5 wide and 47.75 deep

What is the main body of the Lyre of Kissar?

hemispherical wooden form with skin sound board stretched across the surface

What hangs from the crossbar?

Strings made of twisted gut, they are stretched tight down across a wooden bridge and tied to an iron ring.

The lyre of Kissar is understood what type of object?

anthropomorphic object (human characteristics)(two eyes, a nose and arms)

...

When played it has a 'voice', which was perceived to have a spirt of their own, and are jealously guarded property of their owners.

This artists are considered pioneers of total abstraction

Russian Kazimir Malevich and Dutch Piet Mondrian

Filippo Brunelleschi is credited with developing what?

Linear (single vanishing point) perspective

What is Botticelli's best-known painting and what does it depict? (one of the first paintings of a full-length nude female)

The Birth of Venus (c. 1482); A long-necked Venus with a languid pose and flowing hair

Michelangelo created these statues for Pope Julius II

Moses, The Dying Slave, The Bound Slave

What innovations is Giorgione credited with making?

Making landscapes the subject of paintings

What is the Baroque term generally used for?

Artwork that was produced from the late 16 century through the mid 18 century.

What was Caravaggio's (1571-1610) Renowned for?

His dramatic use of light and darks in the baroque art.

What is the Art History dedicated to the reconstruction of?

Social, Cultural, and Economic Context of works.

What is the basic goal of understanding of a work of art?

Historical Meaning, Formal Qualities, Function in Original context, Goals and Intentions of the Artist / Patron, Social Position, and perspectives of the audience in the works original time and place.

Anthropology, History, and Sociology

What is the term Aesthetics associated with?

Philosophical Inquiry into the nature and expression of beauty.

What is Art Criticism associated with?

Explanation of current art events to the general public via press.

What do Art Historians today define as art?

Anything that involves the inquires of any kind of visual material created by people and invested with special meaning or valued Aesthetic appeal.

In the past what did Art Historians limit their focus towards?

"Fine Art", which included paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, and architecture.

What do Art Historians newly accept as art?

"craft" - textiles, pottery and body art (Tattoos). and mass produced posters or advertisements and even designs of ordinary household items.

Why do Art historians acknowledge the meaning of changing meanings of art?

A artwork may change depending on the perspective of viewer.

What is Formal Analysis?

Focus on the visual qualities of the work itself.

What is Contextual Analysis?

Focus on the outside meaning of the art to determine its meaning.

What has had an impact on the preservation of Ancient African arts?

Environmental conditions (Humid) and use of perishable materials such as wood and fibers

What are the cave paintings of Chauvet Cave depicting?

Animals like horses, rhinos, lions, buffalos, and mammoths.

What does the Venus of Willendorf depict?

A small statue that depicted the fertility of women.

Due to the climate change of the Middle Stone Age, what did cave dwellers do?

They moved out of their caves and began moving into rock shelters.

What art forms are often linked to the New Stone Age?

Rings or rows of rough-hewn stones located in Western Europe

Mesopotamian art is not abundant because

Perishable materials were used

What are Ziggurats?

Stepped Pyramids

Akkadian art emphasized

loyalty to the king/monarchy

Who took over after the Akkadians?

The Guti in 2150 BCE

What did the Sumerians do when they regained control?

Established a Neo-Sumerian ruler, the King of Ur

Ziggurats functioned as

temples and economic centers

Hammurabi

king of city-state of Babylonia

Code of Hammurabi

oldest legal code known in it's entirety

Ishtar Gate

Gateway to the great zigguart of the temple of Bel

Persians are known for

Palace at Persepolis

Notable Egyptian artworks include:

the Sphinx, great pyramids of Giza, statues of the pharaohs, portrait head of Queen Nefertiti

Egyptian Art emphasizes

Hierarchical scale

Palette of King Narmer

relic from the Old Kingdom, shows the King larger than other figures

Fractional Representation

Figures represented so that each part of the body is shown as clearly as possible

Most famous boy king

Tutankhamun

Cyclades

Group of islands in the Aegean

Cycladic art was known for

Simplified, geometric nude female figures

Minoan culture was centered on the

Greek island of Crete

Minoans were known for their

frescoes and pottery designs

Mycenaean culture was centered around

city of Mycenae on Greek mainland

What did Mycenaeans primarily build?

Elaborate tombs and relief sculptures

Mycenaeans were known for their

mastery in goldsmithing

Temples built during the Ancient Greek used

Doric and Ionic decorative column styles

Corinthian Style

Set against a floral, ornamented background

Athenian Style Vases

used black figures, more linear and larger in scale

Contrapposto

counter positioning, invented to show the body at it's best advantage

Parthenon was one of the

most admired works of all ages

Etruscan Art was known for

arts of tomb decoration

Roman discovery of concrete was a

major contribution to architecture

Mosaic work

small ceramic tiles, pieces of stone, or glass set into a ground material to make large murals

Hagia Sophia

built in Constantinople, considered one of the greatest architectural achievements

What were the major art forms of the Hiberno-Saxons?

small-scale metal ornaments, carved wooden ship masts, and illuminated manuscripts

Romanesque Style

Roman arch used as basis of the design

Church at Saint Sermin, Toulouse, France

famous example of Romanesque style, used barrel vaults

Vault

arch-shaped structure that is used as a ceiling or as a support to a roof

Gothic Style was known for the use of

pointed arches which gave an upward, soaring sense to churches

Ribbed Vaults

framework of thin stone ribs or arches built under the intersection of the vaulted sections of the ceiling

Flying Buttresses

additional bracing material and arches placed on exterior of building

Arches consist of

voissoirs, a keystone, intrados, extrados, and an impost

Classic example of a Gothic Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral in France

What are the formal qualities of Art?

Line, shape, form, space, color, and texture

What is a Line?

A line is the path of a point through space.

Some characteristics of lines are:

solidity, width, and boldness

Vertical lines are used for what?

They were used by churches because they cause the eye to move upward toward heaven

Straight horizontal lines cause what?

A sense of peace and tranquility

Curved or Jagged Horizontal lines cause what?

a sense of activity and movement

What is shape?

is what defines a 2-D object

What is Form?

are object with length width and height that are 3 dimensional

What are the two different types of shape/form?

Geometric (mathematically defined) Organic (freeform)

What is space?

the organization of shapes and the areas around them.

What is positive space?

the space that the object occupy

What is negative space?

the space that is surrounding the objects

What are the two types of sculpture?

freestanding and relief

What is relief sculpture?

the sculpture projects from a surface or background

What are the two types of Relief sculpture?

high reliefbas (low) relief

What is perspective?

the illusion of depth in a 2-d space

What are the 7 ways to show perspective?

light on objects closer, placing objects lower when they are closer, larger objects for closer, overlap, more detail closer, fuzzy coloring further away, and vanishing points.

What is hue?

the name of a color

What is a color wheel?

the organization of hues into a chart.

What is value?

it is the lightness or darkness of a hue

What is intensity?

the brightness or purity of a color

What is local color?

the true color of an object viewed in daylight

What is optical color?

the color of an object viewed under specific lighting

What is arbitrary color?

the use of colors for emotional impact rather then realism

What is texture?

how things feel or how we think things would feel if we touched them.

What is composition in art?

an artist's organization of the elements of art

What is rhythm in art?

the principle that we associate with movement or pattern

What is motif/pattern?

the two aspects of repetition. motif is a single element in a pattern.

What is balance in art?

the equal distribution of visual weight in a work of art.

What are the 3 types of balance?

Symmetry, approximate symmetry, and asymmetry

What is a focal point?

An element that contrasts with the rest of the composition that causes the eye to stay there.

What is Proportion?

the size relationships in a composition

What is scale?

the relative size of elements in an artwork

What is the difference between hard and soft pencils?

Hard=thin dark linesSoft= thick lines that vary in value

What causes an illusion of 3-d?

hatching and crosshatching or stippling

What is printmaking?

a mechanically aided process that permit the production of multiple artworks

What are screen prints?

use some sort of printing plateon which an image is created. Ink is applied to the plate, and the image is transferred to paper or another material.

What is relief printmaking?

when the artist cuts away partsfrom the surface of the plate. Wherever part of the plate is removed, the original color of the paper being printed uponremains.

What is intaglio printmaking?

a person carves into wood or soft metal which is then dipped in acid. after word the ink is put in the low lying portion of the print

What is Lithography?

a process in which the image isdrawn with a waxy pencil or crayon directly on a plate The inkadheres only to the greasy image since oil resistswater.

Who was the most important Baroque artist?

Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680),

What are pigments?

Finely ground materials that may be natural or synthetic

What do Natural pigments include?

Clays, gemstones, and minerals, as well as plant and insect materials that make color when powdered

What allows the paint to adhere to a surface?

Powdered pigments mixed with a binder that holds the grains of pigment together

What can be used as binders?

Egg yolks, linseed oil, and wax

What kind of surfaces can painters apply media to?

boards, paper, canvas, and plaster walls

What type of tools can paint be applied with?

Paintbrushes, fingers, sticks, palette knives, and anything else

How is a fresco created?

The artist mixes pure powdered pigments with water and applies them to a wet plaster ground

Why must an artist plan carefully when dealing with a "true" fresco?

The paint is permanently bound in the plaster, so the artist will not be able to make changes after the fact

What is fresco secco?

The artist will apply paints to dry plaster

Where have frescoes been found?

In the ruins of Pompeii and in many medieval and Renaissance churches

Tempera

Water-based paint

What are the limitations of Tempera paint?

Requires great skill, dry quickly, and so they cannot be blended once they are applied to a surface, and narrow tonal range

What is a narrow tonal range?

Colors are either light or dark

What is a positive quality of tempera paint?

Retain their clear and brilliant colors

How are Oil paints more versatile than tempera paints?

Can be easily mixed, and they may be thinned to build up layers of delicate glazes

What are glazes?

Thin transparent or semi-transparent layers that are applied over another color to alter it slightly

How can an impasto surface be created?

Oils can be applied thickly or in heavy lumps

What is an advantage of oil drying slowly?

It is possible for an artist to work on an oil painting over a long period of time—days or even weeks

What is an encaustic?

Grave markers were painted with wax-based paints

How are encaustic paintings created?

Colored molten wax is fused with the surface via the application of hot irons

What is Gouache?

Water-based opaque paint that is similar to school-quality tempera, but of higher quality

How is Gouache different from watercolors?

More body and dries more slowly

What makes Gouache a good medium?

Creation of bright colors and meticulous details and is oten used for design and fine artwork

What is a major factor to artists in watercolor?

The white of the paper upon which the artist paints

How do artists make tints in watercolors?

Add more water to the paint

How are watercolors applied?

The lightest colors are applied first, and then the darker colors, working from background to foreground, from broad areas to areas of detail.

Is watercolor forgiving?

Watercolor is not forgiving of mistakes, so watercolor artists must plan carefully and practice diligently

What is acrylic paint made of?

Synthetic materials, plastics, and polymers

How are acrylics versatile?

Do NOT require the slow, careful building up of successive layers with long drying periods in between

What are acrylics unable to achieve?

Dome of the subtleties of which oil paints are capable

For which artists do acrylics offer a valuable alternative?

Those who have developed allergies to oil paint and turpentine

When was Photography developed?

During the mid-19th century

How is photography popularily used?

To document likenesses of people and scenes

Ultimately, what did artists feel as a result of cameras?

Less of a need to confine themselves to naturalistic styles of painting

How has photography gradually assumed a legitimacy within the art world?

The medium of photography is in constant flux as new technology becomes available

When did Realism & Impressionism emerge?

2nd half of the 19th century

What is arbitrary color?

Color meant to evoke the emotional or aesthetic appeal/impact.

What is most Islamic Art?

Non-Figurative