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Enchanted by Africa

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2019

Abstract

The acclaimed publication presented the influence that Africa has had on Czech artists from the beginning of the 20th century until the present. Around 1905, some French artists discovered native art, predominantly from West Africa, which arrived in Parisian markets, museums and private collections from colonies.

Although Czech artists did not grow up in a country with a direct colonial past, African art became an important source of their varied artistic inspirations. African inspiration entered their works through works by foreign artists (Cubists, Surrealists, Expressionists and Fauvists) or thanks to their temporary or long-term stays in Paris.

Nevertheless, Africa was also a source of first-hand inspiration due to their journeys across Africa, or because of their long term stays and work there. The book includes Czech artists who started collecting African artefacts and building collections of native art forming an inspirational platform for their works and artistic thinking.

The objective of this publication is to map the beginnings, growth and accumulation of artists' interest in Africa in the context of Czech art.