Earthenware Sculpture of an Adult Male Head - Essay Example

The statue sits in a corner spot, well lit by natural windows from behind and both sides. This position forces the viewer to appreciate the work from the frontal position and does not allow a good view from the sides or the back.

Analysis
The positioning of what amounts to a severed head onto a base places great emphasis on the facial expression. The work is representational and very detailed, showing realistic touches such as the wrinkles on the forehead and the waves of hair sticking out in patches from the head. This realism is modified somewhat by the blue coloring, which is an unusual choice for a representational self-portrait because it does not represent the human skin tones very accurately. The head maintains the usual proportions of adult human anatomy and conveys an expression of intensity and concentration, indicated by the pursed lips and protruding neck veins. The beard, head hair and eyebrows are represented by tufts and clumps and they all sit frame-like around the central eyes and nose which form the focus of the whole piece. This lumpy texture contrasts with the smoother texture of expanses of skin. The glaze is shiny, which makes the surface of the cheeks and the forehead glisten. This adds to the realism of the piece because it is reminiscent of human perspiration.

Reaction
My first reaction to viewing this work was surprising. The incongruous color and startling expression drew my attention to the piece. At first, I did not notice the inscription on the base and I wondered what the meaning of the strange expression might be. I imagined that the head was rendered speechless by something that it had seen. It did not look too pleased, and something about the eyes suggested to me that the person was unhappy and perhaps a little afraid. The head reminded me of an ancient sculpture and the color made me think of the sea. I thought it might be an ancient image of the sea god Neptune or perhaps a Biblical character like Noah or Moses.

When I finally noticed the inscription, I understood that the notion of breathlessness was being conveyed, but it seemed to me that this was a deliberate kind of breath-holding rather than breathlessness after exertion. It was as if the man depicted in the sculpture was lifting a great weight. I read the details about the piece and found out that the artist intended this as a self-portrait.

At this point, I admired the honesty of the piece. There was no attempt to hide the balding and aging nature of the image. On reflection, I think that perhaps the artist wanted to be seen as a patriarchal figure, who carries the weight of the world in his hands. I like this image of the artist, and I think now that I understand more about the piece than I did when I first encountered it. I realize that it is a modern piece and that it is using ancient connotations to create a specific impression, and I think this is a very clever technique. Read More