Editing African art (section)

== Thematic elements ==
* In Western African art, there is a focus on expressiveness and individuality while still being influenced by the traditional artistic influences. The art of the [[Dan people]] is an example of this, and it has also extended its influence beyond the continent.<ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=The Artist Himself in African Art Studies: Jan Vandenhoute's Investigation of the Dan Sculptor in Côte D'Ivoire|author1=Vangheluwe, S.|author2=Vandenhoute, J.|date=2001|publisher=Academia Press|isbn=9789038202860|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TnzNF43P9ZYC|page=19|access-date=2014-12-12}}</ref>
*The human figure has long been the central subject of most African art, and this emphasis has even influenced certain European artistic traditions.<ref name="African Influences in Modern Art"/> For instance, during the fifteenth century, Portugal engaged in trade with the Sapi culture near the [[Ivory Coast]] in West Africa. The Sapi artists produced intricate ivory [[salt cellar]]s that merged African and European design elements—most notably through the inclusion of the human figure, which was typically absent in Portuguese saltcellars. In African art, the human figure can symbolize the living or the dead, represent chiefs, dancers, or various trades, serve as an anthropomorphic image of a deity, or fulfill other votive and spiritual functions. Another recurring theme is the ''intermorphosis'' of humans and animals, blurring the boundaries between species to convey symbolic meaning.
*''Visual abstraction'': African artworks often prioritize visual abstraction over naturalistic representation. This stylistic tendency stems from the widespread use of generalized and codified forms, which reflect cultural values, spiritual beliefs, and artistic conventions rather than realistic depictions.<ref>[[Suzanne Blier]], "Africa, Art, and History: An Introduction", ''A History of Art in Africa'', p. 16</ref>