Liberia, 1931–33: The Collections of Alfred J. Tulk

Liberia, 1931–33: The Collections of Alfred J. Tulk packed a lot of punch into a small space. It told an admirably complex story about Western collecting of African art while bringing to public attention stunning works of art from Liberia that have previously languished in private collections and far-flung institutions. This installation, curated by Christopher B. Steiner, the Lucy C. McDannel ‘22 Professor of Art History and Anthropology at Connecticut College, gave the objects the chance to shine in a multilayered, thoughtful exhibition that largely succeeded in elucidating a complicated collection's history while still highlighting the grace and beauty of artworks by mostly Dan/Gio or Mano artists. Liberia, 1931–33 also featured the artwork of Alfred J. Tulk himself, whose previously little-known paintings, sketches, and drawings added an extra dimension to this tale of contact, change, and cultural exposure (Fig. 1). The clear, concise labels and exhibition brochure revealed...