AFRICAN ROCK ART by Coulson, David

ISBN: 9780810943636

Abrams | 31 December 2001

Hardcover | 256 pages

The African landscape is littered with information about its prehistoric inhabitants, no more so than in its broad range of rock art. This large book forms one of the best and most comprehensive illustrated guides to the art containing almost 400 colour photographs and line drawings. Detailed discussions of the African land and its people, of the different styles, subjects and dating of the art, and the sites themselves, are followed by a regional study of examples. Includes stunning photographs of some of the most precious, and most threatened, art images in the world. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly At the end of the last Ice Age (over 12,000 years ago), artists throughout Africa produced stunning work that survives to this day on boulders and cliffs, and in caves. In African Rock Art: Paintings and Engravings on Stone, Alec Campbell (founder and first director of the National Museum and Art Gallery of Botswana) and photographer David Coulson (coauthor, Namib, The Lost World of the Kalahari) survey the genre with more than 200 color photos and 178 line drawings that detail elements of these complex compositions. From 20-foot giraffes carved into stone in Niger's A‹r Mountains to a (probably) 6,000-year-old Libyan painting of a hairdressing scene, the photos are hauntingly beautiful. In addition to its considerable contributions to art history and human history the book, with its foreword by the late star paleontologist Mary Leakey, should raise public awareness of the plight of these masterpieces, now endangered by erosion and vandalism. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal While the Paleolithic parietal art of Western Europe is better known, Africa may have more rock art that is more diverse chronologically, stylistically, geographically, and iconographically than anywhere else in the world. Long overlooked by African art scholars, this aspect of Africa's artistic heritage has recently garnered increased attention. This stunning visual survey provides an introduction to the subject for the general reader. The volume will never be mistaken for a scholarly study, as no aspect of the subject is explored to academic thoroughness. For instance, a section called "Recent Research on the Meaning of Rock Art" is but three pages long! Nevertheless, chapters address broad topics, either thematic (e.g., dating) or geographical, with a very accessible text and numerous photographs and drawings. In truth, it is the illustrations and pancontinental coverage that makes this book so valuable. Highly recommended to both public and academic libraries with interests in art or Africa. Eugene C. Burt, Data Arts, Seattle Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal While the Paleolithic parietal art of Western Europe is better known, Africa may have more rock art that is more diverse chronologically, stylistically, geographically, and iconographically than anywhere else in the world. Long overlooked by African art scholars, this aspect of Africa's artistic heritage has recently garnered increased attention. This stunning visual survey provides an introduction to the subject for the general reader. The volume will never be mistaken for a scholarly study, as no aspect of the subject is explored to academic thoroughness. For instance, a section called "Recent Research on the Meaning of Rock Art" is but three pages long! Nevertheless, chapters address broad topics, either thematic (e.g., dating) or geographical, with a very accessible text and numerous photographs and drawings. In truth, it is the illustrations and pancontinental coverage that makes this book so valuable. Highly recommended to both public and academic libraries with interests in art or Africa. Eugene C. Burt, Data Arts, Seattle Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist The rock paintings of Africa have weathered thousands of years of wind and rain, but in recent years the ancient art has been faced with an enemy so destructive that its future is in jeopardy. Slowly, the vandals and thieves are chipping away at antiquity, as are the effects of expanded tourism, the need to gouge reservoirs for drinking water, and the ever-expanding roads. This book has as its aim the objective of combating the general lack of knowledge about Africa's prehistoric art. Well-balanced and inclusive, it attempts to present a general overview of the art from across the continent instead of focusing on one region or time period. The text is instructive and provides helpful background information on dating methods, historical movements, and artistic technique. The book is made complete by the striking, full-color photographs and the ink sketches along the side panels. They help guide the eye and lead to a deeper understanding of the art itself. Jeff Snowbarger Copyright � American Library Association. All rights reserved About the Author David Coulson is founder and chairman of the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA), created to raise awareness of the need to preserve Africa's spectacular rock art heritage. His photographs have been exhibited the world over. He lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Alec Campbell is a member of TARA's executive board, as well as a rock art specialist. He is a former director of Wildlife and National Parks and the founder and former director of the National Museum of Botswana, where he lives.