For a long time, objects originating from Africa were collected exclusively as curiosities or examples of ritual or utilitarian objects from 'other' cultures. Around 1905, however, there was a revolution in the way objects from Africa were generally viewed in Europe. At the same time, the (monetary) appreciation of these objects also changed. Statues and masks in particular gained status as art objects.
Artists like Pablo Picasso, Giovanni Giacometti, Constantin Brâncuși, Henri Matisse, Maurice De Vlaminck, Georges Braque, André Derain and others were inspired by the aesthetics of these objects and incorporated them into their art. But not only that, they also started actively collecting these objects. And with them followed the art lovers and collectors who wanted to add copies of their sources of inspiration to the private collection in addition to the paintings and sculptures of the modern masters. A serious collector had to be able to count at least one copy of each type of object to their collection.
It is said that Corneille was inspired for his 1949 work Le rythme joyeux de la ville by the form of an akua'ba, which he would certainly have taken note of at the time. The large round and flat heads, the cylindrical lower body without legs and the short lateral arms, certainly bear a striking resemblance to the typical basic forms of the akua'mma. If you would like to see more works of art by Corneille from the collection of museum van Bommel van Dam: Corneille collection VBVD.