Ancient Egyptian Art, Painting, and Sculpture - Research Paper Example

? Ancient Egyptian Art, Painting, and Sculpture Introduction Ancient Egypt is one of the countries that have rich history concerning sculpture and paintings. This is because of its history in relation to its rulers as well as its innovation, which made it to be in the world map. The ancient Egyptian art history dates back to five thousand years ago as it emerged during the civilization that started from the Nile valley. Most of the Egyptian arts were expressed in sculptures and painting and they portrayed different meanings, which placed the nation in the global map. The arts were highly fascinating and symbolic as they revolve around the countries past which was intended to keep the countries past and history alive.1 It will be of great importance to define the term “Ancient Egyptian art” in order to bring greater understanding of the topic as well us to aid in capturing information relating to the subject. Ancient Egyptian arts refers to 2 D and 3 D forms of arts which were developed in the nation from the period of 3000 BC and they were continuously in use until the third century (3C).2 During this period, the ancient Egyptian arts remained stable without external influence. This was because of the high level, which it began with at the time of execution. This research paper will focus on the characteristics of ancient Egyptian arts as its forms are characterized by depiction of human beings and nature. Human beings and nature were meant to provide company and comfort to the diseased, as they were believed to be living in the other world. Similarly, this research will portray the function of Egyptian arts as they preserve the present to be clear and permanent as much as possible. Similarly, this research paper will show other forms of arts, which represent extra ordinary time, and life that was lived in thousand years ago in Egypt. Character and Styles Ancient Egyptians arts resembled the actual life situations and nature. They conformed to strict rules which represented their three dimensional forms. Most of the paintings if not all portrayed the figures and images of real life and nature as it was easily noticeable with keen observation. The drawings and paintings were very complete and pretty and they also represented real life situations. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Being that ancient Egypt was a religious nation, most of the paintings and sculptures during civilization encompass the goddesses, gods, and Pharaohs.3 These were religious leaders who were considered as divine and they were accorded much respect as they determined individual fate. The ancient arts were characterized by idea according to the outlined order. The arts consisted of clear and precise lines that combined with simple shapes and colors to create some manners of order and top bring balance in the Egyptian nation. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Similarly, ancient Egyptian arts had horizontal and vertical lines, which they used in maintaining proportions in the artistic works. The artists maintained both religious and political orders, as they were involved in their artistic works. They also drew figures into sizes not considering the painter’s point of view as it was meant to define the social hierarchy of situations. A good example of this can be depicted by drawing the figure of pharaoh to be bigger in the painting paying no respect to its location.4 It also applies to greater gods and lesser gods. Egyptian sculptures were made of clay, wood, metal and stones. These materials were readily available during the period and they were regarded precious in making sculptors at the time. The use of stones in making sculpture was the most plentiful as it was considered permanent because it is hard and was available in different colors which provided a wide choices. The ancient Egyptian sculptors were very distinctive in its nature in two different ways: it is characterized as cubic and frontal. This is because it takes the form of the cubes or the block in which it originated. They are made and focuses on the front side and the statues sits facing in front. Through this depiction, ancient Egyptians sculptures created naturalistic which did not come intentionally.5 This is very different from what is observed in other forms of arts from other regions as outlined by their statues and sculptures. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Lastly, ancient Egyptian arts were used as symbols that formed part of their characters and brought a sense of order. The arts and paintings of pharaoh regalia was a symbol of his power in maintaining order throughout Egypt. Other individual symbols had Egyptian gods and goddesses that depicted the religious nature. The use of animals was also symbolic in the ancient Egyptian art as well as color. For instance, blue and green color symbolizes Nile and life; yellow color symbolizes the god of sun and power and vitality was represented by red color.6 Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Potteries The ancient Egypt had different forms of potteries that helped in carrying out different activities. They used steatite such as soapstones and they carved pieces of animals and other forms of objects. The ancient Egyptians also discovered the technique of covering pottery with enamels, which increased their strengths and beauty. This was also extended to works made of stones. They deposited different pottery items in the burial chambers where the dead were buried. The pottery items used in the burial sites represented interior parts of the body such as the lung, liver, heart among others and they were removed before embalming. Some of the pottery items were used in decorating the walls of the tomb as well as depositing it with the dead as it was a customary in making the dead happy. They also contained the names of the deceased, title, social status in the society and expressions relating to the purpose of the funerals.7 Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html It is evidenced that ancient Egyptian arts comprised of potteries, which served different purposes in the society. They were considered as one of the many ingredient needed when sending the dead to the author world as they contained some writings related to the diseased. As a result, they were protected as much as other forms of artistic paintings in the Egyptian nation. 8Similarly, the nation found a way of increasing the beauty of their artistic works through coating them with enamel. This was also to increase their durability as they could survive cold weather as well as being used without undergoing firing. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html During the Neolithic period, pots played an important role in comforting the dead in their graves. They were buried in shallow pits, which were dug in the sands. They were then surrounded by pots that contained food and the belongings of the diseased. This was in relation of the belief of afterlife as the dead had a life away from where they initially lived.9 The above vessel illustrates waster plants, birds and the life in the Nile. They were specifically meant for burial purposes as they portray the life that comes after death. Paintings Egypt is one of the countries whose paintings survived many years. However, this may be attributed to the dry climate of Egypt. History states that ancient Egyptians created paintings in order to make afterlife of the diseased to be more adorable and enjoyable. The paintings were beautiful and they were believed to be introducing the diseased to the gods of the underworld.10 Similarly, the beautiful paintings acted as a link and a transition between the two worlds as it welcomed the disease into another world without incurring much shock. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html The above painting shows the activities in which the diseased person was involved in through his entire life in the real world. The activities are portrayed in the tomb paintings because it was the wish of the diseased to carry with him all the activities he liked as he starts afterlife. Therefore, it is very important for the paintings to depict and portray the wishes of the dead as ancient Egyptian did. The tree of life Ancient Egyptians used some forms of arts in showing the stages of life in which human beings had to pass in their life as they transited from one stage to another. On the tree life, the artist used various birds at different stages as the birds symbolized different stages of life human beings passes. Starting with the lower right corner moving clockwise, light grey bird symbolizes infancy, red bird symbolizes childhood; green bird symbolizes youths; blue bird symbolized adulthood as orange bird symbolizes old age. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Ancient Egyptian have embraced the use of arts to make and have certain believes which shapes their way of life. For instance, they considered east as the direction of life. This is because it is where the sun rises. On the other hand, they consider west direction as the direction of death; it is where the sunset. Because of this, all the first four birds faces the safe direction as they are on life while the other faces the wrong side as it faces death. Conclusion The ancient Egyptian arts, paintings, and sculpture play an important role in the life of the Egyptian. The ancient arts have certain characters which makes them distinctive from other forms of arts of other countries. This has made them stand over period and preserve their arts. Bibliography Fletcher, J. (2009). Exploring the life, Myth, and art of ancient Egypt. London: Rosen Publishing Hodge, S. (2006). Ancient Egyptian art. London: Raintree Malam, J. (1997). Exploring Ancient Egypt. London: Evans Brothers Limited Malek, J. (1999). Egyptian Art. New York: Phaidon Massey, G. (2008). Ancient Egypt: Light of the world: Work, reclamation and Restitution. New York: NuVision Publication Robins,G. (2001). Egyptian Statues. Buckinghamshire: Shire Read More