Traditions beyond the western canon

A wider view.

Asia and Africa

Chinese landscape painting, Japanese woodblock prints, Persian miniatures, Indian temple sculpture and West African bronze casting each have long independent histories.

Japanese prints strongly influenced Impressionist composition.
Benin bronzes were looted in 1897 and are subject to restitution claims.

Indigenous and folk art

Textiles, carving and body art carry meaning within their communities that museum display often strips away. Context is part of the work.