Art Critique: Two Portuguese with Manillas

Art in all shapes and forms has played a significant role in Africa for centuries, not only in cultural beliefs but also being vital in their functions. Over those centuries Africa has also been influenced by other cultures including the Portuguese. The Portuguese influences can be seen throughout many African art pieces through the 16th century due to large increases in trade. These influences can be seen considerably in the piece “Two Portuguese with Manillas” 

Cast in brass by the Edo people “Two Portuguese with Manillas” “reflects the association made by the Edo people between the Portuguese” as described in “Plaque: Two Portuguese with Manillas” by the Met Museum. This piece is one of the many examples of collaboration and influences between the Portuguese and African civilizations. The Edo people are also known as the Benin people’s plaques were more specifically created by well-trained guilds employed by the royal court (“Benin Bronzes”). While these pieces are difficult to date, they can be found throughout the 16th to 17th century and sometimes even further back. A large variety of different colors cannot be seen on the plaque due to it being cast of one type of material.  Due to it being made of brass there is instead one color of many values that can be identified. Within the piece, sunken parts seem lighter in color, and raised parts seeming to be darker. This color variation can be obtained in an array of ways including light reflection but more precisely weathering and oxidation of the metal. Also due to the method of creating the artwork there is an overall smooth and matte finish. The plaque also displays a repetition of lines and shapes including circles and pointed ovals in the background, geometric shapes being commonly found in many forms of African art (Crowe). the more prominent “manilla” metal rings are presented in the foreground to add emphasize onto them. Another dominant factor of the piece being the “Two Portuguese” also present in the foreground. These characters are exhibited through expressionism rather than realism with lengthened arms and slightly enlarged heads commonly seen in other Benin works. These works include “King or chief mounted sidesaddle on a horse with attendants” and other plaques created at the time. These figures in this plaque specifically can be distinguished as Portuguese through the thick long beards, sharp thin noses, straight hair (“Met Museum”), and hats seemingly popular in Europe during the time period.  

Throughout the time period when “Two Portuguese with Manillas” was created there was a substantial increase of trade between the kingdom of Benin and Portugal of ideas in addition to physical objects. While Africans are credited for the invention and popularization of casting metals, they did not always have the materials to create, the Portuguese playing a significant role in supplying these metals. For commodities like ivory, spices, and slaves the Portuguese would trade manillas. These large brass rings that can be seen depicted throughout the art piece could be later traded again or melted down to be used in more casting (British Museum Benin Art). These plaques similarly to this art piece were commissioned by Obas or sacred rulers of the Benin people. These rulers also were the deciding factors in trade between the people and the Portuguese. Creations were used to honor ancestors by being placed at altars as brass was a sacred to the Benin people. Brass was believed to have the ability to ward of evil (“What Can We Learn from the Art of Benin?”). This also means it was mostly to be used in association to royalty. These plagues also could be used to decorate the royal palace as well. Artworks like this could be seen hanging from large pillars found in these royal estates(“Met Museum”). The plagues were also a record of relationships between other civilizations and specifically how the Benin people viewed them (“Benin Bronzes”). This is seen through “Two Portuguese with Manillas” representing the economic relationship between the two civilizations and also how The Benin viewed the Portuguese as wealthy through their large quantity of manilla rings. 

The artwork, although a rather simple piece, can evoke much emotion from the viewer through its more expressionistic art style. The unproportionally presented bodies of the figures create an unsettling vibe to a modern viewer but was more than likely the style during the time and place of its creation. The somewhat jarringly deep-set eyes of the Portuguese figures present also further this ambiance through a modern person’s perspective. This could also represent how the Benin subconsciously viewed foreigners in the past. Not only as wealthy or powerful human beings but also somewhat intimidating or strange in comparison to themselves. The size of the Portuguese in comparison to the manillas, with the manilla rings being larger and repeated throughout, can also allow the viewer of the piece to believe the manillas are more significant than the figures. As the manillas were used by the Benin to express their culture through the process of casting. 

Overall “Two Portuguese with Manillas” fulfills its purpose as art not only in the past but also in the present. In the past the plaque acting as decoration in the royal palace, a record of relationships between the Benin and other civilizations, and an expression of ideas and culture. In modern times the artwork is also successful in its expression. Its captivating style unique to the Benin allows the viewer a refreshing way of viewing African art as not primitive but instead complex and meaningful.  With its material composition being metal it also was successful in withstanding the teste of time but also showing the significance of brass to the Benin. The plaque allowing people of the present day to have an insight into the practices not only found within the Benin culture but also within the trade of the past and correlations between Africa and other continents.