African Arts, The Impossible Collection, The Ultimate Collection (book)

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African Arts, The Impossible Collection, The Ultimate Collection (book) by Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter. Photographs by Vincent Girier Dufournier. Hardcover in a luxury clamshell slipcase. 232 pages and over 150 illustrations. Brand new book in English. 2024. Publisher: Assouline. Large format: W 12 x L 15.25 inches. Weight: 17.8 lbs..

While traditional African works of art were created primarily in a ritual context, this in no way excludes their aesthetic dimension. Created by artists whose audacity, inventiveness, and technical virtuosity can never be overemphasized, African masks and sculptures—long wrongly relegated to the rank of mere “idols” and “fetishes”—tell us how the African continent is the bearer of thousands of stories, its traditions nourished by countless distinct sensibilities.

African Arts: The Impossible Collection is a meticulously curated volume showcasing masterpieces of African art from renowned private and public collections around the world.

Featuring key pieces—such as an ivory pendant depicting a 16th-century Nigerian queen mother and a commemorative statue of Cameroon-Grassfield (both on display at the MET Museum)—this volume serves as a manifesto celebrating the boldness of African artists, both known and unknown.

Featuring a wide selection of images by photographer Vincent Girier Dufournier, this book offers a striking visual narrative that complements its rich historical perspectives. Perfect for collectors, poets, writers, and art lovers, it inspires admiration for the rich and diverse heritage of African arts.

In twelve chapters featuring Fang reliquaries, iconic masks, and terracotta pieces, while celebrating the hypnotic splendor of metal, the beauty of utility, and the notion of eternal femininity, author Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter explores the history of African art in detail, composing a true aesthetic manifesto through her words and unique selection. This edition is the first to bring together the most important artworks from around the world, making it the definitive compendium on African art.

Feel free to check out the additional photos at the top left, thank you!

If you prefer to pay in euros, =before= you start ordering, you must click on the word “Français” in orange, under the main photo above, which will redirect you to the same description in French and payment in Euros.