primitivism

Primitivism is an outlook that views history as a decline from an ideal past or believes that a return to a simpler way of life is the path to salvation. This philosophy often emphasizes the value of what is natural over historical development, artifice, or complex societal structures.12

In art, primitivism refers to the style of art created by indigenous or non-Western peoples, or Western artists who draw inspiration from these sources. European artists, particularly in the early 20th century, were drawn to the perceived "instinctive spirit" and "pure plasticity" of "primitive" art, seeing it as a radical departure from tradition. Artists like Pablo Picasso incorporated African masks into his work, influencing Cubism, while others explored their own heritage, finding connections between non-Western art and the subconscious. This interest in primitivism was part of a broader modernist movement that valued abstraction and formal elements in art.3245