The Statuette of a Horse as Abstract Art - Essay Example

The Statuette of a Horse a merging of and naturalistic art Ancient Greek artists created several sculptural works of art that combined the style of abstract geometric patterning and naturalistic touch. These arts are manifestations of the transition of the Greek style as influenced by the flow of its history, science and technology, culture, and economy during the period when Greek culture is expanding wider in the world through their colonizing efforts. Among these arts is the Statuette of a Horse which combined the abstract style of the Geometric period and some naturalistic touch of the Archaic era. The Art Description In the period of 8th to 7th century BC statuettes was a common and favorite subject of dedication to the Gods. Small bronze statues were commonly found in every sanctuary in Greece. The Statuette of a Horse is one among these small sculptures. It is made out of bronze which measures 3 1/8” x 1 3/8” & 2 3/16”. It is typically molded as shown by its form. Minute details on the surface, however, were less apparent as the artifact was aged as observed by its surface texture. The artist showed both abstract style and naturalistic approach in this particular work. The artist was not so particular with the details of the artwork. The abstract characteristics of the statuette are shown by the long head, the small body and other features. Several works were found in Greece that showed similar approaches and style including the use of the horse as a subject which was evidence of naturalist idea. Although, less emphasis were given on naturalistic rendering but rather on details of some specific parts of the body as shown by the long legs which may have represented some characteristics the sculpture was made to symbolize. The artist might have petitioned agility and speed. It could be an offering to appease the Gods. Or it could be for something else. The maker of the artwork is unknown but the perforated base suggests that it was made in Southern Greece where this style was mostly observed based on literatures. The style was most common during the Geometric Period (8th century BCE) and the early archaic era which began in the early seventh century BC. Particularly, this sculpture was believed to be crafted during 750-700 BCE based on the Getty Museum record. The use of bronze as a medium During the Archaic period artists preferred the use of bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) against pure copper because of its ability to be molded easily. It is a known fact that bronze would stay liquid longer than pure copper when melted. This characteristic is considered advantageous to the delicate artist of those times. It made casting easier and paved the ways for newer techniques. Liquefied bronze once poured on the mold will flow to minute details in the molder before it finally solidify making possible the crafting of fine cleavages and cuts out of the model. This is probably one of the reasons why the Greek artist used bronze casting technique in producing the statuette. The use of bronze is also advantageous in terms of duplication of the work. In earlier times when marble medium was used in sculptures every work was a single original copy. Producing an identical work maybe possible but too difficult. Mass production would have started because of the bronze casting technology then. The use of bronze material is also advantageous for molded artworks just like the statuette being mentioned here. Besides, bronze arts are more elegant compared to other medium used in the earlier times. The statuette of a horse in contrast to the kouros The common approach of Greek art in the Archaic Age used human as subjects in artworks. During this period the kouros, which were bronze statues that used young men as subjects, became popular. The use of the horse as a subject instead of human is another variation of the style. The statuette we mention here, which was part of the earlier era, depicts a horse in its general appearance. In those times horses represent wealth and power because only the rich can afford to have them. In addition, as an object of offering, therefore Greek artists prefer animal or other non human subjects instead. The pastoral nature of the economy of Greece by this time is maybe one of the factors why the horse as well as other animals was used as subjects of art. The kouros found in the archaic era showed similarities with the horse. The arts were both made of bronze and were molded. The kouros art mentioned in our text from the said period presented a style with no particular or less detailed profile. Although parts of the body are well elaborated small details like the eyes, the fingers, the hair, and others were not emphasized. In like manner, the horse produced earlier than the kouros follow the same style with less emphasis on details. Socio-historical context: The combined and transitional nature of the style The Geometric era marks the period in Greek art when artist uses geometric patters in their works. The style was mostly applied in vase paintings. The era was followed by the Archaic period when art had evolved into naturalistic approach using natural subjects and realistic in shape and proportion. The statuette was found to be a hybrid of these two styles where abstract geometric rendering is used with a natural subject. It is by this art that the transition is very apparent. It can be explained by the fact that the work was produced between 750BC to 700 BC. The shift from abstract to realistic art was believed to be brought by the influence of the merging of the civilization from the Near East and Egypt. Quick review of Greek’s history tells us that during this particular period Greek culture expanded through this area by colonization. New styles are therefore learned from civilizations in the east like Egypt and integrated into the Greek art. In conclusion, the work of art discussed, which is the statuette of a horse and similar artworks was a pure evidence of the merging of styles and culture as Greece transcends ancient times from the Geometric Era to the Archaic Era. The form manifests the combined geometric rendition style and naturalistic approach. The minute details of the horse statuette in display at the Getty Museum may have been damaged by time but its general appearance show the artistic touch of perfectionism. The material was evidence of Greek’s scientific and technological advancement using the latest technology in their art. In the historical context, the design showed the influence of Greek’s economic and social stature as its culture was mixed with others in the course of its imperial expansion. The statuette is found in the Getty Museum Read More