Mathematics and popular painting in Congo

Congolese popular art holds some surprises for the mathematical beholder. Firstly, the traditional predilection for abstract patterns, as in sand drawings or woven fabrics, seems to have become overwhelmed by figurative painted art in modern times. Secondly, African painters used parallel projection, at least until some decades ago, and this contrasts with the classical perspective that became the Western standard after its discovery during the Renaissance. Acculturation seems to have changed the minds of African painters towards perspective, and perhaps this is regretful, at least from a mathematical point of view. Indeed, both perspective and parallel projection can be based on the classical Monge top and profile view: both methods are equally correct. This algorithmic construction method can also explain intermediate forms, which can often be seen in popular African paintings, such as Panofsky's fishbone representation.