Required works and concepts from African, Asian, Islamic, and Indigenous American art traditions on the AP Art History exam. Front: the work or concept. Back: culture, period, and significance.
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- Benin plaques
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Brass relief plaques from Kingdom of Benin, present-day Nigeria, 16th-17th centuries. Depict royal court scenes and ceremonies with intricate detail. Significant as documentary record of Benin royal lineage and evidence of sophisticated lost-wax casting technique.- Dogon masks
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Wooden masks carved by Dogon people of Mali for rituals and ceremonies. Represent mythological animal and human figures. Significant for spiritual communication and cultural identity in West African masking tradition.- Kongo nkishi figures
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Power figures from Congo region, wooden sculptures embedded with metal nails and cloth. Used in rituals for healing and spiritual practice. Significant for understanding African religious beliefs and artistic expression.- Ife terracotta heads
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Naturalistic portrait heads from Kingdom of Ife, Nigeria, 12th-15th centuries. Created in terracotta and bronze with refined facial features. Demonstrate sophisticated artistic culture of Yoruba civilization.- Ethiopian icon painting
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Religious icons on wood panels from Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition, developed from medieval period onward. Distinctive style blends Eastern Christian iconography with Ethiopian cultural elements. Central to Ethiopian Christian practice.- Nok terracotta
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Ceramic figurines created by Nok culture of Nigeria, 1500 BCE to 500 CE. Hand-modeled with sophisticated technique and naturalistic proportions. Purpose likely related to spiritual or ceremonial practices.- Ndebele house painting
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Geometric wall designs covering Ndebele houses in South Africa, 20th-21st centuries. Use bright primary colors and mathematical patterns. Represent ethnic identity and community artistic pride.- Shona soapstone sculpture
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Abstract stone sculptures carved from soapstone by Shona artists of Zimbabwe, 20th century onward. Often depict human figures and animals. Contemporary African art form gaining international recognition.- Shang dynasty bronzes
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Ritual bronze vessels with intricate designs and inscriptions from ancient China, c. 1600-1046 BCE. Used in ancestral worship and religious ceremonies. Demonstrate advanced metallurgical knowledge and technical skill.- Chinese landscape painting
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Ink paintings emphasizing harmony between humans and nature, developed during Tang and Song dynasties. Uses empty space and subtle brushwork to suggest vast landscapes. Philosophical significance tied to Daoist and Buddhist thought.- Ming dynasty porcelain
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Refined ceramic vessels produced in China, 1368-1644, particularly from Jingdezhen kilns. Often decorated with cobalt blue underglaze. Prized globally for technical perfection and became model for European porcelain.- Angkor Wat
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Massive Hindu temple complex built in Cambodia by Khmer Empire, begun 1113 CE. Largest religious monument in the world. Represents architectural mastery and fusion of Hindu and Buddhist traditions.- Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)
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Colored woodblock prints depicting urban life and landscapes, 17th-19th centuries during Edo period. Created through collaborative process of artist, carver, and printer. Influenced Western art through Japonisme.- Noh theater masks
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Carved wooden masks used in Japanese Noh drama representing different character types, developed in 14th century. Minimal expression combined with costume and movement conveys character. Integral to refined Japanese theatrical tradition.- Mughal miniature painting
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Detailed paintings on paper depicting court scenes, gardens, and religious texts in India, 16th-18th centuries. Blend Persian and Hindu artistic traditions with sophisticated perspective and naturalism.
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