vocab art hi

Sapi

A group of people from coastal West Africa, known for their unique artistic contributions and historical significance.

Salt Cellars

Decorative containers used to hold salt, often intricately designed and significant in various African cultures.

Kingdom of Benin

A historical West African kingdom known for its sophisticated court, artistry, and rich cultural heritage.

Edo

The ethnic group native to the Kingdom of Benin, known for their art and history.

Oba

The title for the king of the Edo people in the Kingdom of Benin.

Iyoba

The title of the queen mother in the Edo culture, often a significant political figure.

British Punitive Expedition 1897

A military campaign by the British against the Kingdom of Benin, leading to its annexation.

The Berlin Conference (1884-85)

A meeting of European powers to regulate the colonization of Africa and divide its territories.

The Scramble for Africa (c. 1884-1914)

The rapid invasion and colonization of Africa by European powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Yoruba

An ethnic group in Nigeria known for its rich cultural traditions and artistry.

Àse (ashe)

A concept in Yoruba religion referring to the spiritual energy that empowers people and things.

Orisha

Spiritual beings in the Yoruba religion, each representing different aspects of life and nature.

Ifa Divination

A system of divination in Yoruba culture using a divination chain or opon ifa.

Opon Ifa

A divination board used in the Ifa divination process.

Ere Ibeji

Carved twin figures in Yoruba culture, representing deceased twins and the beliefs surrounding them.

Akan Peoples

A group of ethnic groups in West Africa known for their rich cultural practices and artistic traditions.

Asante Kingdom

A historical kingdom in present-day Ghana known for its wealth and cultural heritage.

Sika Dwa Kofi

The Golden Stool of the Asante, symbolizing the unity and identity of the Asante people.

Sunsum

The spiritual essence or soul in Akan beliefs.

Kente Cloth

A traditional Ghanaian textile made of silk and cotton, often used in ceremonial contexts.

Akua’ba

A wooden figure representing fertility in Akan culture, often used in ceremonies.

Dogon

An ethnic group from Mali known for their unique traditions, art, and astronomical knowledge.

Kanaga Mask

A distinctive mask used by the Dogon people in ritual performances, characterized by its geometric design.

Kingdom of Kongo

A historical kingdom located in central Africa, known for its political and economic structures.

Nkisi (pl. minkisi)/nkisi Nkonde (pl. minkisi Nkonde)

Sacred objects in Kongo culture used in healing and protection rituals.

Kuba Kingdom

A historical kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo known for its textiles and woodcarving.

Ndop

A type of royal portraiture in the Kuba Kingdom, typically representing the king with ceremonial objects.

Les Fauves/Fauvism (c. 1905-08)

An early 20th century art movement known for its bold colors and brushwork.

Primitivism

An art movement that drew inspiration from non-Western cultures, emphasizing simplicity and natural forms.

Cubism (c. 1908-1914)

An avant-garde art movement that fragmented objects into geometric shapes.

Collage

An artistic technique involving the assembling of different materials and objects to create a cohesive work.

Assemblage

A three-dimensional artistic composition made from a variety of materials and objects.

(German) Expressionism c. 1905-20s

An art movement characterized by its focus on emotional experience rather than physical reality.

Die Brücke (The Bridge) c. 1905-1911

An art group that led the expressionist movement in Germany, focusing on radical artistic techniques.

Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) c. 1911-1914

An expressionist group that emphasized spirituality in art and the use of color.

Non-objective art

Art that does not depict recognizable objects or scenes, focusing instead on forms and colors.

Futurism (c. 1909-1930)

An artistic and social movement that emphasized modern technology, speed, and dynamic movement.

Dada (c. 1916-1922)

An avant-garde art movement that rejected logic and embraced chaos and absurdity.

Found Objects

Everyday objects used in art to challenge traditional notions of art and its materials.

Ready-made(s)

Artworks created by taking an ordinary object and designating it as art.

Photomontage

A composite image created by combining various photographs or images.

Surrealism (c. 1920s-60s)

An artistic movement focused on exploring the unconscious mind and dream imagery.

Automatism

A technique in surrealism allowing artists to create without conscious control, often leading to spontaneous art.

Inka Empire (c. 1400-1550)

A large empire in South America known for its advanced architecture and culture.

Tocapu

Geometric motifs used in Inca textile arts and ceremonial attire.

Dry Masonry

A construction technique using stones without mortar, notable in Inca architecture.

Huacas

Sacred places or objects in Inca belief systems.

Keros

Ceremonial drinking vessels used by the Inca culture.

Aztec Empire (c. 1430-1521)

A Mesoamerican civilization known for its architectural achievements and rich cultural practices.

Tenochtitlán

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Templo Mayor

The main temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán, serving as a religious center.

Plateresque Style

An ornate style of Spanish architecture characterized by elaborate detailing.

Mexican Muralist Movement

An influential art movement focusing on social and political themes in large public murals.

Southwest (US)

Region known for its diverse Native American cultures and rich artistic traditions.

Pueblo

A type of communal dwelling used by Indigenous peoples in the Southwest United States.

Kiva

A ceremonial structure used by Pueblo peoples for religious practices.

Sipapu

A small hole or depression in a kiva representing the place of emergence in Hopi mythology.

Kachina

Spiritual beings in Hopi culture, often represented in dolls and used in ceremonies.

Diné/Navajo

A Native American tribe known for their weaving, pottery, and connection to the land.

Sand Paintings/Weavings

Artistic expressions using colored sands or woven textiles, often part of Navajo healing ceremonies.

Northwest Coast

Region known for its Indigenous cultures and elaborate art forms, including totem poles.

Kwakiutl

An Indigenous group from the Northwest Coast, known for their rich ceremonial art and culture.

Potlatch

A ceremonial feast among Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, featuring gift-giving and displays of wealth.

Transformation Masks

Masks used in ceremonies among Indigenous peoples to represent change or transformation.

Totem Poles

Carved wooden poles representing animals and ancestral figures, significant in Indigenous cultures of the Northwest Coast.

Eastern Woodlands

Cultural region in North America known for its rich traditions and artistry among Indigenous peoples.

Bandolier Bags

Decorative bags worn across the body by Indigenous peoples, often richly embellished and culturally significant.

Great Plains

A region in North America inhabited by various Indigenous nations known for their nomadic lifestyles and art.

Tipis

Cone-shaped tents used by Plains Indigenous peoples, suited for their nomadic lifestyle.

Painted Hides

Hides decorated with designs and images, often used in ceremonies and as artistic expressions.

Geometric Abstraction

An art movement focused on the use of geometric forms and shapes as the primary means of expression.

De Stijl (c. 1917-1924)

An art movement characterized by a focus on abstract forms and strict geometric designs.

The Bauhaus (1919-33)

A German art school that emphasized the integration of art, design, and architecture.

Modernist Architecture

A style of architecture that emerged in the early 20th century, prioritizing function and simplicity.

International Style (1920s-30s)

An architectural style characterized by minimalism and an emphasis on volume over mass.

Cantilever

A projecting structure supported at one end, commonly used in modern architecture.

The Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement in the 1920s celebrating African American art, music, and literature.

The “Spirit of Place”

A concept referring to the unique atmosphere or character of a specific location.

Regionalism

An artistic movement focused on depicting local or regional subjects and themes.

Abstract Expressionism (c. 1940s-60s)

An art movement emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation.

Action Painting

A technique within abstract expressionism focusing on the physical act of painting.

Color-Field Painting

Art that emphasizes large areas of color and minimal detail, prominent in abstract expressionism.

Neo-Dada (late 1950s-60s)

An artistic movement that revisited Dada themes, incorporating elements of popular culture.

Combines

Artworks that combine painting and sculpture, often using everyday objects.