In order to understand the influences of the modern art period, as pertaining to undertones and overtones of traditional African art infused into the works, one must realize that this influence started to form long ago with initial contact with African artifacts. The most notable artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Manteese, drew inspiration from the simple, yet highly artistic African masks and sculptures. This initial contact first began with the dealers, artifact collectors, and artists themselves, who began collecting African art for its unique appearance, rather than having any interest in the spiritual functions those masks or statues were meant to serve. However, it's important to also note that the accumulation of artifacts during the period of the 1870s, occurred as thousands of African sculptures and tribal art flooded into Europe as a result of the numerous colonial conquests of Africa. Thus, in this journal, we will be exploring the art of Pablo Picasso, who came in contact with African art, influencing his future work. Furthermore, contrast in meaning and value will be discussed.
The Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head (The Great Bieri)
“Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head (The Great Bieri)”, 19th century, Gabon, Fang peoples, Betsi group, Wood, metal, palm oil, 46.5 x 24.8 x 16.8 cm,
The “Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head (The Great Bieri)” is of a tribal and spiritual altar figure, that in the Fang society, would have been created to represent an ancestor. Additionally, this figure would also be a complement to the shrine box containing other important spiritual elements and reliquary. During times of trouble, these ancestral figures would be addressed directly, along with other relics stored within the container; or as in this case, the head was used as a mobile shrine. This piece offers a further representation of spiritual symbology, as it can be seen in the large head and wide-eyed stare, there is a sense of the wealth of knowledge of the ancestor, and their continued steady presence from the spiritual realm. As mentioned, this figure is part of an altar model. The original artifact belonged to a family where it had been passed down for nine generations along with the other personal effects that were held in the shrine box. Although only a family member could interact directly with this shrine, its significance and importance is highlighted in the features of the work itself. The materials used to create this would be black heart-wood, metal and palm oil, which was used as a preservative of the overall composition. It is known that the Fang figures such as these, are almost always created to be free-standing heads, busts or full figures to be used on altars.
Pablo Picasso's - Head of a Woman
“Head of a Woman”, Pablo Picasso,1909, Bronze, 40.6 × 26 × 25.4 cm,12.5 kg.
The “Head of a Woman'' also known as “Fernande” was a sculpture created originally in clay by Pablo Picasso. After his art dealer had purchased the work from him, the dealer had it cast in bronze, as seen here. Elements of African influence can be noted in the mimicked use of geometric shapes to represent human form. Even the color of the sculpture is mimicry in the same fashion of the traditional African standing statue. However, a different combination of materials was used, than those in the Traditional African Head. When it comes to the subject of the composition, Picasso took the aspect of Fernande Olivier, one of his lovers, and broke down the complexity of her facial features into smaller geometric units that built one upon another. Although this work lacks the spirituality that is clearly present in the traditional African altar figures, Picasso's work does have sentimental value that can be considered akin to the African sculpture, as there is a level of personal and community sentimentality to it, but in African customs, the object would be passed down from generation to generation and revered. Though again in the case of Picasso's sculpture, those who knew him would understand these values at the time of its creation, and the fact that this was one of many portraits he made of Olivier, whom he loved deeply at the time. However, it may be worth noting that when this sculpture was made, their relationship was taking a bit of a dip and they later broke up. Nevertheless, for Picasso, it was Oliver’s beauty that inspired him.
Where Did These Influences First Appear?
If one were to speculate the possible reasons for Picasso to model his bust of Olivier with the influence of an African sculpture such as the Reliquary Bieri head, then one would have to look at this work through the lens of his early curiousity in portraying the human form in different ways. This curiousity would later lead him to the Cubist movement that swept across Europe with Picasso at the forefront. The Cubist movement being the artistic adaptation of African art features used to create unique compositions - a dynamic experiment with a changing style. In later years, his paintings became more abstract with time, but this sculpture was the initial study of a new form under the influence of African art.
Given the development of artistic expression as seen in previous movements in European art, such as the groundbreaking impressionist movement that broke away from academic art, Modernism was only a natural progression of the redefining of method and representation of the human form. Modernism has been highly influenced by African art, giving momentum to further artistic movements such as Cubism and leading Cubists such as Picasso himself. The elements and features of African art are timeless and continue to amaze in their simple yet complete representation of facial features, or whole figure gestures that can still be understood as a human figure.
Like, Share and Subscibe! Thank you for Reading!
_____________________________________________________________________
Bibliography:
Head of a Woman, Fernande, 1909 by Pablo Picasso, www.pablopicasso.org/head-of-a-woman-fernande.jsp.
Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/486756.
“Head of a Woman (Fernande), Picasso (1909).” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 7 Apr. 2001, www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/07/art.