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African Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art Painting 20th Century Battle Scene on Canvas

About the Item

African Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This tribal folk art painting depicts a battle scene and the canvas is mounted on a parallelogram-shaped frame. It is a large battle painting centered by the huts of a village. Two large ranks of soldiers face each other armed with sabers and bayonets in addition to the presence of heavy artillery, commanded by dignitaries on horseback. In the canvas there are captions in the Amharic language among which we can decipher the only... fitewrari habteghiorghis.... probably referring to Habte Giyorgis who was Ethiopian prime minister from 1909 to 1927 (the year of his death). Listed measurements below refer to the height and the max width from left upper edge to the lower edge on the right side. Dates back to the late 1930s. The canvas shows minimal tears and signs of wear but we can customize a restoration. The human figures are characterized by unrealistic proportions of the head and body and depicted in static positions. This sense of fixity makes this battle painting easily intelligible and suggestive. A particularly fascinating aspect of Ethiopian art was its adherence to the expression of an objective truth, independent of time and space. The figures are represented in what are considered their true immutable form. At the height of its stylistic perfection, Ethiopian art gave up the illusion of volume, depth and perspective. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy created over 70 years ago requires a governative license for export called Belle Arti. The shipping may require additional 2/3handling weeks to require and get the license according to the final destination of the artwork.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 34.65 in (88 cm)Width: 57.09 in (145 cm)Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1938
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Some tears of the canvas but we can customize a repair.
  • Seller Location:
    Milano, IT
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: A8331stDibs: LU2160325260032

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Ancient Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This genre scene painting is divided into eighteen squares bordered by a black frame and divided into three lines. The scene depicts the story of a couple with three children through the stories of their domestic life and their rural activity; each box has a caption written in the Amharic language. In the first line: they grind; they drink; …illegible… while they spin; they bring water. In the second line: comb, cut your hair; treats your teeth; grind; they bring the wood; they bring water. In the third section: they prepare beer; they prepare bread; they cook bread; they prepare lunch; while they eat; while they drink. This canvas is painted in shades of ocher and is mounteed on a ebonized frame. Dates back to the late 1930s. The canvas show minimal tears and signs of wear but we can customize a restoration. The human figures are characterized by unrealistic proportions of the head and body and depicted in static positions. This sense of fixity and the narration in successive chapters in domestic environments make the paintings easily intelligible and suggestive. A particularly fascinating aspect of Ethiopian art...
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