The Image of African Art in Europe. The First Collections and the Reliability of Sources

More than a hundred years have passed since the “discovery” of African art in Europe, it would not be superfluous to ask questions: how was selection source base research carried out, and that, fact, all this time, starting from mid-10-s. last century, studied Africanist history? According most critics historians, sculptures masks served as an inspiration for Picasso, Braque, Léger other French artists, founders early avant-garde. One his “fathers”, Paul Guillaume, even claimed that discovery played Europe 20th century same role antiquity Renaissance [Laude, 1966, p. 38]. But reliable is on basis which made continue draw sometimes very far-reaching theoretical conclusions, justified are these conclusions? On one hand, monuments first collections completely random; they took what "liked"; liked exactly corresponded aesthetic ideas their time — at beginning century. avant-garde quickly came into fashion, after choice made, subsequent collecting necessarily guided by tastes Vlaminck, Braque or Picasso. author, throughout history history, out artificially narrowed base, nature predetermined collectors. The criteria selecting things were formed European culture aesthetics. Even when available artefacts collected, those did fit idea “should” rejected exhibited. became studies built, then ultimately it. As result, works provide more information about preferences Europeans Africans.