DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0027
GRAPHIC AND PLASTIC ARTS
THE FORMAL ELEMENT IN ART
An examination of the material on which our studies of the artistic
k. value of objects of primitive manufacture are founded shows
that in most cases we are dealing with products of an industry in
which a high degree of mechanical skill has been attained. Ivory
carvings of the Eskimo; fur clothing of the Chukchee; wood carving
of the northwest coast of America, of New Zealand, the Marquesas,
or central Africa; metal work of Africa: applique work and embroi-
dery of the Amur River; pottery of the North American Pueblos;
bronze work of ancient Scandinavia are examples of this kind.
The close relation between technical virtuosity and the fullness of
artistic development may easily be demonstrated by an examination
of the art of tribes with onesided industries. While people like the
African negroes or the Malay are in possession of many industries,
such as basketry, carving, weaving, metal work and pottery, we find
others among whom the range of industrial activities is so narrow
that almost all the utensils for their manifold needs are made by
the same process.
The Californian Indians present an excellent example of this
kind. Their chief industry is basketry. Almost all their house-
hold goods, receptacles for storage, cooking vessels, mortars for
preparing food, children’s cradles, receptacles for carrying loads,
are made of basketry. As compared to this industry others em-
ployed for the manufacture of weapons and tools are insignificant.
The building of houses, of canoes, woodcarving, and painting are
only slightly developed. The only other occupation in which an
unusual degree of skill has been attained is featherwork. A great
deal of time is therefore given to the manufacture of baskets and
an unusual degree of virtuosity is found among the basketmakers.
The beauty of form, the evenness of texture of the Californian
baskets are well known and highly prized by collectors. At the same
2 — Kulturforskning B. VIII.
THE FORMAL ELEMENT IN ART
An examination of the material on which our studies of the artistic
k. value of objects of primitive manufacture are founded shows
that in most cases we are dealing with products of an industry in
which a high degree of mechanical skill has been attained. Ivory
carvings of the Eskimo; fur clothing of the Chukchee; wood carving
of the northwest coast of America, of New Zealand, the Marquesas,
or central Africa; metal work of Africa: applique work and embroi-
dery of the Amur River; pottery of the North American Pueblos;
bronze work of ancient Scandinavia are examples of this kind.
The close relation between technical virtuosity and the fullness of
artistic development may easily be demonstrated by an examination
of the art of tribes with onesided industries. While people like the
African negroes or the Malay are in possession of many industries,
such as basketry, carving, weaving, metal work and pottery, we find
others among whom the range of industrial activities is so narrow
that almost all the utensils for their manifold needs are made by
the same process.
The Californian Indians present an excellent example of this
kind. Their chief industry is basketry. Almost all their house-
hold goods, receptacles for storage, cooking vessels, mortars for
preparing food, children’s cradles, receptacles for carrying loads,
are made of basketry. As compared to this industry others em-
ployed for the manufacture of weapons and tools are insignificant.
The building of houses, of canoes, woodcarving, and painting are
only slightly developed. The only other occupation in which an
unusual degree of skill has been attained is featherwork. A great
deal of time is therefore given to the manufacture of baskets and
an unusual degree of virtuosity is found among the basketmakers.
The beauty of form, the evenness of texture of the Californian
baskets are well known and highly prized by collectors. At the same
2 — Kulturforskning B. VIII.