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Descriptions du produit:
Descrizione libro
From Library Journal
These two books by the same publisher are very similar in a number of
ways?they are designed to accompany major European exhibitions; contain
hundreds of visually impressive photos of some of the finest works of
African artistry; and cover the art of Africa while emphasizing the
sculpture of West and Central Africa. These similarities aside, the
books differ significantly in terms of the nature of the text and the
focus of the content. Early in the 20th century a small number of
European collectors acquired significant collections of African art. Han
Coray (1880-1974), a modern art dealer in Zurich, was one of the
earliest of those collectors, and his extensive collection eventually
became the property of the Zurich University Ethnographic Museum.
African Art is a catalog of that collection, with over 300 photographs
of the objects. While most of the catalog entries provide useful
information about the objects, some are unsatisfyingly only descriptive.
More than a dozen essays are also provided, while some are scholarly and
informative, many are personal reflections on and reactions to the
collector and the collection, which some readers may not find especially
enlightening. African Masks explores the nature of one of the most
important categories of art in Africa. An excellent introductory essay
by scholars Maria Kecskesi and Lazlo Vajda succinctly discusses the
roles of masks in African societies and explains variations in their
form and aesthetics. Almost 250 masks in the Barbier-Mueller Museum
collection are cataloged with brief entries and small but fine
black-and-white photos. The major portion of the book consists of
large-format color plates of selected masks with extensive, scholarly
notes by Hahner-Herzog. Many of the plates are accompanied by
outstandingly useful field photos of the masks as worn by fully costumed
performers in their indigenous context. Both books are highly
recommended for any public or academic library with an interest in art,
anthropology, and/or African studies. Eugene C. Burt, Art Inst. of
Seattle Lib.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --Ce texte fait référence
à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Book Description
Mysterious, graceful, and majestic, the African mask has long been the
subject of great fascination for those interested in tribal
civilizations and cultures. Now available in paperback, this beautiful
volume presents nearly 250 of the finest African masks from the
incomparable Barbier-Mueller Collection, which is unique in its vast
number of masterpieces and wide geographic scope. The book includes one
hundred color plates accompanied by in-depth descriptions, as well as
numerous black-and-white photographs of the masks as they are used in
religious and secular celebrations. An introductory text by renowned
scholars describes how the masks are constructed, examines their
significance in African culture, and offers insight into the universal
practice of masquerading. A unique contribution to literature on African
art, this book is also a wonderful introduction to countless fascination,
ages-old spiritual traditions still being practiced today.
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