Arts of Africa. 7000 ans d'art africain. Vol. 1

This beautifully illustrated volume, published in association with the Grimaldi Forum exhibition in Monte Carlo, highlights all the rich diversity of African cultures through a meaningful selection of masterpieces of traditional African art.
The volume dedicated to traditional African art examines the artistic and historical panorama retracing 6000 years in the history of African art and features major archetypal and iconic works from the various regions and periods. An exemplary array of sculptures in wood, bronze, stone and copper, masks, jewelry, and objects of daily use from prestigious private and public collections are beautifully reproduced in full-color plates. This immense artistic and historic fresco highlights the beauty and force of these works from regions including Nigeria, Benin, the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Mali and Sudan. The book also examines the influence of African art on 20th century Western masters such as Picasso, Modigliani and Brancusi.
Ezio Bassani is an art historian and has written extensively on African art. Among his many publications are Power of Form (2002) and Africa and the Renaissance (1989).