West African Art in the 1500s

Art was a huge part of West African culture in the 1500s. It was one of the most important ways West Africans express themselves. Many West African art has a human figure in it, although like many other art, they were often abstract instead of realistic. In addition to being abstract, many of their artwork was three dimensional, such as sculptures. Even artworks like paintings in a house were meant to be seen three-dimensionally by walking around the house. You had to look at it from different angles to fully understand the art.

Even though a human figure was reoccurring in their work, they often showed strength and courage, and rarely showed any emotions such as love. Different pictures often represent different things, for example; when a mother and child are shown together it often symbolizes Mother Nature with people as her children, and a man with a weapon or animal usually represents wealth and honor. Art was a huge part of West African culture in the 1500s.
By Sarah