The Image of the European in African Art

The Image of the European in African Art—a companion to The Image of the Black in Western Art series—is profusely illustrated, including little-known works, ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day. These essays reveal the complexity of the relationships between various works and the social circumstances in which they were created. The Image of the European in African Art—a companion to The Image of the Black in Western Art series—is profusely illustrated, including many little-known works, ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day. This is the richest and most comprehensive treatment of the subject to have yet appeared, following on the work of Julius Lips and Nii O. Quarcoopone. The essays presented here reveal the complexity of the relationships between various works and the social circumstances in which they were created. Although African art depicting Europeans has often been seen only as satirical representations of colonial oppressors, the artists’ intentions were more nuanced, and in some cases were made in collaboration with their subjects.