Kongo: Power and Majesty (9781588395757)
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9781588395757
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Author: Alisa Lagamma
A compelling examination of one of the most artistically rich and creative African kingdoms Artists from the kingdom of Kongo--a vast swath of Central Africa that today encompasses the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola--were responsible for outstanding creative achievements. With the influx of Portuguese, Dutch, and Italian merchants, missionaries, and explorers, Kongo developed a unique artistic tradition that blended European iconography with powerful indigenous art forms. An initially positive engagement with Europe in the 15th century turned turbulent in the wake of later displacement, civil war, and the slave trade--and many of the artworks created in Kongo reflect the changing times. This comprehensive study is the first major catalogue to explore Kongo's history, art forms, and cultural identity before, during, and after contact with Europe. Objects range from 15th-century "mother-and-child" figures, which reflect a time when Europeans and their Christian motifs were viewed favorably, to fearsome mangaaka, power figures that conveyed strength in the midst of the kingdom's dissolution. Lavishly illustrated with new photography and multiple views of three-dimensional works, this book presents the fascinatingly complex artistic legacy of one of Africa's most storied kingdoms. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (09/29/2015)
Hardcover: 308 pages
ISBN-10: 1588395758
ISBN-13: 9781588395757
Item Weight: 3.90lbs
Dimensions: 11.30h x 9.20w x 1.30d
Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/21/2015
A compelling examination of one of the most artistically rich and creative African kingdoms Artists from the kingdom of Kongo--a vast swath of Central Africa that today encompasses the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola--were responsible for outstanding creative achievements. With the influx of Portuguese, Dutch, and Italian merchants, missionaries, and explorers, Kongo developed a unique artistic tradition that blended European iconography with powerful indigenous art forms. An initially positive engagement with Europe in the 15th century turned turbulent in the wake of later displacement, civil war, and the slave trade--and many of the artworks created in Kongo reflect the changing times. This comprehensive study is the first major catalogue to explore Kongo's history, art forms, and cultural identity before, during, and after contact with Europe. Objects range from 15th-century "mother-and-child" figures, which reflect a time when Europeans and their Christian motifs were viewed favorably, to fearsome mangaaka, power figures that conveyed strength in the midst of the kingdom's dissolution. Lavishly illustrated with new photography and multiple views of three-dimensional works, this book presents the fascinatingly complex artistic legacy of one of Africa's most storied kingdoms. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(09/17/15-01/03/16)
Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (09/29/2015)
Hardcover: 308 pages
ISBN-10: 1588395758
ISBN-13: 9781588395757
Item Weight: 3.90lbs
Dimensions: 11.30h x 9.20w x 1.30d
Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/21/2015
About the Author
Alisa LaGamma is Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer Curator in Charge, Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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