Critical Essay: Art History

Introduction

We have selected William Fagg, from “In Search of Meaning in African Art,” 1973, in Art History and its Methods: A Critical Anthology, ed. Eric Fernie (London: Phaidon, 1995), 244. This essay will discuss the African culture in relation to the earth goddess. Most African cultures, if not all, believe in a Supreme Creator in one form or another.  A God behind the Gods, a Supreme God who created everything.  The Creator is thought to have once lived on Earth, but left it for His Kingdom in the Sky because of human infractions.  Because he was no longer in direct contact with the people, Lesser Gods were created directly from His power to do certain jobs that were given to them.  These Lesser Gods are the Gods of Earth, The Rains, Water, The Winds, Fire, etc.  (Robertson: 67-79)

The Deities are capable of answering human prayers by use of their own power and can intercede on man's behalf with the Creator Himself.  Although The Supreme Creator is usually referred to by him etc. it is beyond sex, being both male and female.  It has no form and is thought of in an abstract way.  It is available to any human, regardless of their position.  A breath of Its Divine Being is within all animate and inanimate things. It is known as Mulungu (East Africa), Leza (Central Africa), Nyambe (West Tropics), Nyame (Ghana), the Molder, Giver of Breath and Souls, God of Destiny, One Who Exists of Himself, God of Pity and Comfort, the Inexplicable, Ancient of Days, the One Who Bends Even Kings, the One You Meet Everywhere, etc. Among many tribes, the creation of the Earth took four days.  The fifth day was reserved for worshipping the Orisha Nla (Chief of the Deities), who actually created the Earth with the instruction and aid of the Supreme Creator.  The Orisha Nla was also given the task of creating bodies out of clay.  When this was complete the Supreme Creator secretly placed the spark of life within the forms.  These newly created humans were then placed on the Earth to live. (Hagtvedt: 379-389)

Discussion

Erzulie is the Haitian Goddess of Love whose roots go back to the Yoruba West African Goddess of Love, Oshun. She is beauty, sweetness, love and sensuality personified and is renowned for her generosity. The arts, especially dance, are her domain. Rivers, streams, lakes and waterfalls are hers and she can cure womb-related problems with her cool waters. The fan that she is holding is from Osogbo, Nigeria and belongs to a priestess of Oshun who is the mediator between the divine or natural world and the world of people, the cross in the circle indicating the meeting of the two worlds. (Greenberg: 49-53)

Ancient Egyptian Goddess of healing and magic. She lived with her brother/husband Osiris until he was killed by his brother Set. Isis found his body in Phoenicia in a tamarisk tree and returned it to Egypt for a proper burial. After Set's second attempt to ...