African influence on Modernist art:
Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse
Picasso’s Demoiselles D’Avignon, painted in 1907, marked a turning point
in modern art, and was influenced by African art.
Although he denied it at first, Picasso later admitted to the deep impact
that African art had on his work.
The African sculptural influence is very evident
in this Picasso sculpture, “La Guitare.”
Famed artist Henri Matisse was also influenced by African art.
Matisse’s ‘Bathers by a river suggests this African influence.
The more you study modern art history, the
more you will realize the critical importance of
African art and aesthetics on the development
of European art at the time.
Continue to research and you will be
surprised at how much African art impacted
this critical time in European and American art
history.
