2004
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Volume 51, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 0165-4322
  • E-ISSN: 3050-9947

Abstract

Abstract

African art never was popular in Christian eyes. Its appreciation has suffered from a long history where Christian missionizing went hand in hand with colonial occupation, also colored by the racism that was dominant from the 18th century. Throughout, these objects were defined in extremely negative terms, as the very antithesis of art and Christianity. Yet, Catholic missions did collect them to sell at exhibitions, in order to stimulate and finance the mission endeavor. The move towards recognition of artistic value came from outside the Christian sphere. This article sketches the pathway to this recognition, explores the place of this art inside local African religions – zooming in on statues and masks – and reflects on the relation between Christianity and art in general. As for the art from Africa, it shows how a series of misunderstandings gave rise to the categorical denigration of this art form in Christian discourse, and gives clues for a fundamental reappraisal of the world of art in modern times.

© Wouter van Beek
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/content/journals/10.5117/RADIX.2025.3.005.BEEK
2025-09-01
2025-12-17
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References

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Appreciatie van Afrikaanse kunst
RADI 51, 266 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5117/RADIX.2025.3.005.BEEK
/content/journals/10.5117/RADIX.2025.3.005.BEEK
/content/journals/10.5117/RADIX.2025.3.005.BEEK
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Keyword(s): Africa; art; images; masks; misconception; mission
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