Boas, Franz: Primitive art (Oslo , Leipzig [u.a.], 1927)

Representative art

67

of art but only as representations that serve a temporary purpose;
hence the disregard of form and of exactness of workmanship.
Quite similar observations may be made on the clothing of the
Amur tribes. The skin clothing worn by the people, particularly on
festive occasions, is beautifully ornamented in applique, or by painting.
The ornaments are in part geometrical, in part representative. Figures
of birds and fish abound (fig. 60). On the other hand the painted
dresses of shamans are roughly executed (Plate VI). They represent


mythological concepts and have a value solely on account of their
meaning. The interest does not center in the form. As compared
to wearing apparel they are crudely done, for the beauty of execu-
tion is of minor importance.
A third example is found among the North American Indians of
the Great Plains. Their representative art, in the strict sense of the
term, is almost entirely confined to a crude form of picture writing.
They have not developed a high technique of painting and the forms
of horses, men, buffaloes and tents are merely reminders of incidents
in the life of the people. The figures (fig. 61) are in no way orna-
mental and bear no relation to the object on which they are depicted.
They are made for the purpose of representation only. They are
not art in the rigid sense of the term. Judging from the character