Cycladic Sculpture of the Early Greece Culture - Case Study Example

Reclining Female Figure This early Cycladic sculpture is of the informal variety, the most popular and widely distributed form of Cycladic art that describes the two main phases of the early Greece culture that is superbly sculpted. The lyre- shaped head is angled backwards, with a prominent aquiline nose with chins that are pointed. The crown of the head arches with finials at the corners. It has a crescent-shaped ridge at the back. The head has an offset from the tampering neck through an incision in the same way that the neck off-set from the body. The piece is curved at the front and has angled lines at the back that merge with the spine and the broad shoulders are slightly arched. It has small pointed breasts, narrow arms that are folded right below the left. The figure has gently curved hands across the abdomen that is swollen. The piece has a deep cleft apex that is bisected and separates the long legs in front. It has a shallow cleft in the back that is raised up to the horizontal buttock ridge. The knees are intended and profiled. The ankles are also incised and the feet are angled down having concave soles with delineated toes. The piece is 11 and a half inch high.[ CITATION Rob103 \l 1033 ] The image has a feminine figure with broad shoulders and curved waist. It is a small sculpture that is portable. The figure uses curved triangular shape for the head, curved square shape for the breast oval curve for the waist and semi triangular shape for the legs. The texture type used in the image is not actual but visual. This is a texture typical for human skin. The texture type indicates that it is a light piece. It has a predominantly light with dark accents in the value scheme. The sculpture has varied characteristic aspects that relate to the principles of design. It portrays a perfect balance in the way the weight of the piece can be distributed evenly through the shoulder down to the feet. The shoulders are wider but proportional to the waist and portable by the legs. The hands are evenly shaped, but little thinner compared to the body size. The breast size is broader and not uniform to the lower part after the arms which provides non feminine image and looks unrealistic. This is a clear contrast on the figurative image of the female body. There is harmonious curved shaping of the waist and legs. The forward bending of the knees depicts natural movement in the piece. The piece is composed of numerous regular shaping to form a smooth feminine image. The dominant points on the piece are in the breasts and waist. The waist has a curving line similar to the inner pants while the breasts protrude in a distinct regular size in the right positions. The proportionality is clear from head to the toe with a little unevenness that is well protected by the folded arms. The different parts of the whole piece are conjoined in a complex systematic sequence that reveals a unit piece with clear resemblance. These elements are used in the creating of a message through the piece. The work style has an origin of the Cyclades that are a collection of Islands in the southwest of Aegean. The group comprises of thirty small islands that have numerous islets. Many of these islands were rich with mineral resources particularly iron ore, lead, gold, silver, marble and emery. This style of art depicts archeological evidence of origin to sporadic Neolithic settlements on Melos, Antipas, Naxos and others. The early settlers were sculptors and practiced it through marble figurines.[CITATION Bar871 \l 1033 ] The early bronze ages brought a distinctive civilization known as early Cycladic culture. This culture emerged through momentous settlement sites on Keros and Syros. At that time, the island was popular in Iron ore and bronze, which were used in sculpture works. Mush evidence of the culture comes from assemblage of objects. Many of the figures are used to display a remarkable consistency in portions and forms that suggest historical values of the community. The use of the human form was frequent in Greece and Roman in depicting the values of human in relation to sex and the gods and goddesses. Historical, Cultural Context The people that are presently known as Cyclades originate from the Aegean Sea islands. They were searching for obsidian, hard volcanic rock that is used throughout the Aegean during the Neolithic period. They were also used during the Bronze Age for cutting tools and weapons. They first used poor clay substance for making pottery. After a span of 3000 years in the traditional Bronze Age, the Cyclades began using metals like the bronze for making things like little figurines. Later they began using white marble from the islands to make little figurines that were known as “Folded-Arm Figurines”. The figurines were mostly female and were the most common Cycladic piece of art that is found to date. The figurines were discovered in earth cutting graves that were commonly used for multiple burials that were lying on top of the deceased bodies. They were to be displayed up until the burial time then they become more private as a spiritual guardian for life after death. They were only viewed or seen by the priest and the close family. The sculpture may have been used to represent the deceased or as a parting gesture. This is a similar manner as the Egyptians’ use of gold as a wealth sign. All the Cyclades had been the white marble that was one of the valued items on the island. The information available, however; does not indicate any belief by the community in life after death. There have been no ritual signs too although some believe the community did because the figurines had to have significant meaning. This is because of the much time and energy used on painting and curving the piece to so many details. [ CITATION Dep04 \l 1033 ] The reclining female figure indicate Cycladic thoughts, how they viewed things and how they began to express how the look of their people in the most basic form. This provides a vivid glance into the day to day activities and possible rituals on the community by then. The curvature of her body from the breast to the shins gives the piece rather average-sized woman. Other than the normal breast size sign and the female genitalia that is curved by a small triangular patch just below the pelvic region; the piece has a high slender waist compared to the males who have lower waist is an indication of the duties associated to the female gender. Besides the curving of the breasts, waist placement and genitalia; there are no signs representing the womanhood. The three signs are clear indications that the image is a female figure. The women are shown as having two legs that seems to be detached from each other even though they are not separated from the curving. Their feet too just like the legs are also attached to the carving base. The feet are curved in details and are proportionate to each other. The feet are downward pointed and are thin making it almost impossible for the statue to stand by its own. This is a clear indication that the piece should have been lying down somewhere. The women images in both online and arts share the same features. The common features are protruding nose; genitalia symbolized by the small triangle, crossed arms and the breasts in similar gesture. All the women figures also have the paint flakes appearance on them more than other figures. This proves that they are painted in some way; facial features, wither clothing or to give color to the ordinary white material of the sculpture. All the figurines were made in the same way, chipped with scrapers and chisels of obsidian from the nearby islands. This was possible because the Cycladic people did not have any known metals to use in the art. In comparison of images to some other “women”, there is a clear observance of a reoccurring theme. The pieces all look the same no matter the island. This similarity in the pieces of the island indicates several possible meanings. One possibility in the origin is the existence of a workshop for making of the pieces for specific occasions. The occasions may be burials because most of the pieces were found in such areas. They were found arranged as flowers for funerals. The other possible origin may be from the selling by the original artist who could have gone from island to island selling the art work. This may be the origin of the piece which could have found the imitation of the piece by the local artist for the needed functions. The mystery that still stands is the reason for the production of the similar pieces. This mystery may not be fully known anytime, and what their main purpose was even though it will be brought to light. The greatest mystery of the pieces is their similarities yet made centuries apart. This may signify some sought of religious beliefs. However, research proves that they do not have any religious belief. Presently, there is only twelve discovered sculptures as the work of a single artist and classifies as the Schuster Master in the present piece which take the name from Ashmolean Master. Most of the works represent the female state. Like the sculptures by the contemporaries, the positioning of the feet indicates a perceived inclination of the figure. This art piece is known for the 2400 B.C. and combines the Cycladic sculpture schools in the hallmark of the styles. The exquisite female figure in the presented piece is a complete work from the Ashmolean Master that survives in perfect condition. It exhibits a thin layer calcareous incrustation that in common in the Cycladic pieces. The figure is seen in numerous publications on Cycladic art and exhibitions. It is an outstanding piece as one of the master piece of the Cycladic sculpture. In modern days, the recovery of the Cycladic sculpture was discovered in the 19th century. This was possible through the collection by travelers and some then found their way to museums in Britain. The Cycladic sculpture pieces were to exert a tremendous influence in the movement of modern times. They inspire many of the modern century artists like the Modigliani. The objects in Cycladic pieces are owned by the Moore and Picasso who have remarked that the Cycladic pieces were stronger than Brancusi. Conclusion The pieces have distinct artistic personalities that are commonly recognized in Cycladic sculpture. They are based upon recurring details of execution and systems of proportion. The standing female figure is a common piece of the Bastis Master. The masterpieces are known for a stylization of human bodies that are elegant almost to the mannerism point. The artistic design used by curving the surfaces of the head, restraining the swelling of the breast and the area of the abdomen and the positioning of the toes in the downward pointing state with slightly convex soles is a clear representation of an exceptional technical command. The artistic piece can be associated to the historical culture of the Greece. It indicates some aspects of polytheism, having divine qualities with human emotions and symbolism of the ancient gods that were believed to exist. It also has a significant identity to the aspects of cultural jealousy, loving, angry and competitive relations. The figurative art work shows resemblance of the stories of the Greek gods and goddesses in the way they often interact with human. Hence gives human image identities and features in relation to the purposes that they serve. The statues were created in honor of the goddesses and as a sign of protection on the graves of the dead. This way of literal signal in communicating some message among the community and those in life after may have been frequent. There are numerous similarities between the art work of the Greece and the Romans hence they can be compared in understanding their purpose and the role they played. Works Cited CITATION Rob103 \l 1033 : , (Symes), CITATION Bar871 \l 1033 : , (BarBer), CITATION Dep04 \l 1033 : , (Department of Greek and Roman Art), Read More