Alexander Schinis - Egyptian Art

September 17, 2008 · Posted in Artistic Styles 

As can be inferred from the title of this post, Egyptian art is art that originated in the ancient civilization of Egypt, ranging from 5000BC to 300BC. Egyptian artists manifested their work in two main surviving forms today, those being painting and sculpture. Depictions of gods, pharaohs, and religious occurrences are prevalent in both of these forms of Egyptian art. Egyptians were known for their monumental architecture as an art form, which first dates back to the mastabas, tombs for high-ranking Egyptians, to step pyramids, and  finally to the pyramids many of us recognize today, such as those at Giza. These pyramids were decorated with reliefs based on various motifs, such as fishing, hunting, and so on. In terms of sculpture, powerful Egyptian males were often crafted in one of two typical poses, one in which the subject is seated with a scepter, and another in which the subject is standing, poised to step forward. The stiff and formal poses of Egyptian pharoahs were carried through Egyptian art for many centuries, leading up to the rule of Akhenaton, who broke the traditional mould of Egyptian art and depicted scenes of family and favored the true image of the pharaoh to be shown rather than an image of perfection, as they had been for generations beforehand. After the death of Akhenaton, Egyptian art returned to the traditonal style for many centuries more until the decline of the Egyptian civilization. 

Kleiner, Fred S. and Christin J. Mamiya. Gardner’s Art Through The Ages, V. I. Thomson Wadsworth, California: 2005

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