The Image of the Black in Western Art - 9780674052710

In an idealistic response to segregation in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, two emigrés from France to the United States, Dominique de Menil and her husband, began a research project and photo archive devoted to the image of Blacks in western art. As art patrons and humanitarians, their aim was to use art and research to bring dignity and humanity to the fore. What began as an anticipated one-year undertaking expanded into a 15-year project culminating with publication of five volumes (some in two parts). These publications (which appeared in the 1970s and 1980s in both French and English editions) contained a treasure trove of images (superb photos of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art) accompanied by scholarly essays; the scope ranged from ancient Egypt to European masters to contemporary black artists. The present volume is the first volume of a new project--a collaboration of the Belknap Press (an imprint of Harvard U. Press), the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, and the Menil Collection (which now contains more than 30,000 images). When completed the project will comprise five volumes, containing within these volumes 10 books, eight of which will be revised editions of the original works and two of which will offer additional coverage of art in the 20th century and in African art. The essays are a mix of newly commissioned studies and articles from the original publications. This first volume (in a 10x11.5" format) includes an introduction to the new edition by Jeremy Tanner incorporating new research on the controversial topic of the representation of black people in the ancient world; providing context, the preface and introduction to the first edition are appended. The project is being shaped by general editors David Bindman (emeritus, art history, University College London) and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard U.). Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)