West African Art Essay

Throughout history, the art discovered during certain time periods generally reveal much about the time period the art was created in. Art can show how people lived and hunted with subjects like the drawings on walls found in caves. It can also be important for people trying to learn about certain events that happened in the past, as some art have the ability to tell stories. Art is particularly useful in history because it is usually signify a social status of whatever king,queen,pharaoh, or ruler that happens to be in power at the time. The history of the African culture is no exception from this, for they have numerous art pieces that are dedicated to and/or in honor of their kings and other figures in high power.
During the 9th or 10th century, the Lower Niger area of West africa had …show more content…
These works of art that are for types of rulers or anyone in high status show how much control and power the ruler or king obtain and also how the people making the art see their ruler and how they admire their ruler. An example of this in African culture would be Altar to the Hand and Arm from Benin,Nigeria during the 17th or 18th century. Altar to the Hand and Arm is considered to be an ikegobo which is a type of cast-brass royal shrine. The shrine featured a symmetrical hierarchical configuration that targeted the focus on the dominant king at that time, most likely Oba Erosonyen. The king in this shrine was place on the top of the piece while lesser members of the court were placed just below the king. This indicates that the king is seen as a being that is higher and more powerful than anyone else in the court. The social status and centrality of the Benin culture is demonstrated well by this shrine, for Altar to the Hand and Arm indicates how great the dominant king during the period was and how the culture admired the