Understanding terminology that describes African sculpture
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AP Art History › Understanding terminology that describes African sculpture
Which of the following is generally true about African sculpture?
Realist depictions are rare, with the head in particular being oversized
Historically, the most prized skill has been the exact recreation of human features without flattery
Depictions of human beings and animals were banned for religious reasons
Statues were typically larger than life size to emphasize the subject's grandeur
Explanation
Most African sculpture fits a tribal religious background, often depicting subjects that embody ancestors, spirits, or gods. Carved out of wood and stone, the statues were generally small enough to be relatively portable. These statues were usually human figures, but somewhat distorted in certain body parts, especially in the head and sexual characteristics.