Caribbean Art

World of Art

by Veerle Poupeye

The complex and colorful world of Caribbean art reflects the region's African, European, Asian, and native heritage. Despite the ethnic, linguistic, and political diversity of Caribbean artists, there is a cultural unity in their work that distinguishes it in the larger context of North American and Latin American art. Following a discussion of the pre-Columbian and colonial eras, the author describes how pioneering national art movements in the first half of the twentieth century helped to define an indigenous aesthetic, and how revolution, anti-imperialism, and race-consciousness in the turbulent sixties and seventies affected the face of art. There is a strong relationship between Caribbean popular culture and art, and the book explores the importance of African-Caribbean religions such as Voodoo, Santaria, and Rastfarianism, as well as the influence of Trinidad carnival, the Junkanoo masquerade of the Bahamas, and similar traditions. This wonderfully illustrated survey covers a wide range of artists who have lived and worked in the Caribbean, as well as those who have left the islands but whose background plays a significant role in their work, providing a compelling look at a great body of original and imaginative art.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Emily St. Amant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. Academic yet accessible. This puts the art of the Caribbean region into political, cultural, social, and emotional context. I greatly appreciated this quote in particular, being a landscape artist myself: “Landscape painting usually stems from a deep and personal identification with nature and the land.” This book isn’t just about art, it’s about the humanity and natural world that drives artistic expression.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great jumping off point to delve into Caribbean art history. This book covers some of the key artists and movements of the English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking Caribbean. Way more than just palm trees and market scenes! I jotted down so many names and titles for further research.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history book, providing a creative picture of the Caribbean.