The Human Form in Egypt

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Predynastic, Early Dynasties, and the Old Kingdom

The Oldest Egyptian Art: • Pre-dynastic paintings from 3500 BCE.

– Already representing a funerary scene.– Stick figures are reminiscent of Catal Hoyuk.– Mesopotamian influences also evident.

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Predynastic, Early Dynasties, and the Old Kingdom

The Unification of Egypt:• Division between

Upper and Lower Egypt was geographic as well as political.

• The Narmer “palette” dates this at 2920 BCE, but thought to have taken severalcenturies to complete..

– A palette was, in its simplest form, a surface to prepare eye makeup. [used for protection against the sun]

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Predynastic, Early Dynasties, and the Old Kingdom

Narmer’s Palette: Important as a document, but also as a template for representing the human figure that lasted for 3,000 years

• The goddess Hathor is at the top of both sides, represented as a cow with a woman’s face

• Motif on the back resembles the lower left group in the Hierakonpolis painting & became the formula for representing triumph of the god-kings over their enemies.

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Predynastic, Early Dynasties, and the Old Kingdom

Narmer’s Palette: • The elongated necks of

two felines form the circular depression where the eye makeup would be placed.

• The intertwined necks may be a reference to Egypt’s unification.

Portraying the Human Figure: used a convention from Mesopotamia & also seen earlier– head, legs, arms in profile -- eyes, torso in frontal view– Introduction of “registers” [a kind of ground line]

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Bowling pin hat= Upper EgyptHorus= Kings ProtectorMan= Lower Egypt

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Catfish= Nar Chisel=mer Frame around represents the royal palace

Crown= Lower Egypt

Bull = Represents the kings strength taking over other cities

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Sculptural Forms: Statues for Eternity

• Tombs included images of the deceased for the ka’s abode in case the mummy was destroyed.

Statue of Khafre• Stone is diorite• Symbolism includes: -- Throne of two stylized

lion’s bodies– Intertwined lotus & papyrus

representing union of Egypt.– Horus spreads falcon wings

behind his head to protect him.– Headdress has royal cobra on

front.

ca. 2520-2494

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Sculptural Forms: Statues for Eternity Statue of Khafre• Wearing his royal false beard• Represented in ideal form and flawless

face.• Form manifests purpose: to last for

eternity.

Characteristics of the style:• Bilaterally symmetrical• Frontal pose• Idealized body and features• Compact and solid with few projecting

parts

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Sculptural Forms: Statues for Eternity • Menkaure & one of his wives.

– This standing statue was one of the basic formulaic types.

– Stood in the valley temple of his pyramid complex.

– Also shows how close to the stone block shape these statues were.

– Pose is rigidly frontal – use of conventional poses to suggest timeless nature of these substitute homes for the ka.

– The wife’s pose symbolizes their marital status, but no emotion is expressed.

ca. 2490-2472

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Sculptural Forms• The scribe, Kay

– Differences show both the conventions of representation and his lower status than the pharaoh. [below]

• More relaxed in the 5th dynasty [on left] with increasedrealism.

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Egyptian Relief Conventions

From the mastaba of Ti, 5th dynasty

The "canon of human proportions”• An artist drew a grid on the wall, then placed

various body parts at specific points on the network of squares.

• Each body part was a fixed number of squares. • Artists did not sketch from life or show much variation on

the canon.• The canon

lasted thousands of years.

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The Middle Kingdom

The pyramid tombs so popular in the Old Kingdom were replaced by mountain tombs in the Middle Kingdom.

• How does the portrait of Senusret III reflect the changed political conditions of the Middle Kingdom?

• His mood is shown through the realism in the features, indicating

expression by lines around the nose and eyes.

Senusret III ca. 1860 BCE

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Mountain Tombs: Beni Hasan

• There were rock-cut tombs earlier, but the best preserved are from the Middle Kingdom.

• ca. 1950-1912 BCE

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The Grand Mortuary Temples

Tomb of Hatshepsut:• With no male sons she

acted as regent for Thutmose III, but eventually took over.

• Some evidence in a relief that Thutmose II had intended that she be queen.

• First recorded great female monarch. Hatshepsut

c. 1492-1458 BCE

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Ramses II Tomb: Abu Simbel

• Ruled for 2/3 of a century.

• Was the last great warrior Pharaoh.

• Proud of his conquests,he put 4 images of himself on the temple façade.

• Not as refined as earlier work because of their size.

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Painting and the Tomb of Nebamun

Thebes: • fresco secco:

let the plaster dry before painting it.

• Figures are more active.

c. 1400-1350

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Akhenaton and the Amarna Period

Amarna style & figural representation:• Figures were shown as more effeminate

or androgynous, with curving contours and elongated forms rather than masculine and angular as in the old style.

• More individuality is allowed in portraits.

Akhenaton c. 1353-1335

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Amarna Period

What aspects of the head of Queen Tiye that reflect the Amarna style?

• Age is shown with lines and furrows.

• Her features are more individualized rather than exact to the canon’s proportions.

• She was sometimes shown equaling her husband in size at the temple of Aton.

Queen Tiye c. 1353-1335

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Statue ComparisonEarly Kingdom Style-- Khafre Amarna Style—Akhenaton

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Statue ComparisonAkhenaton, Nefertiti & Daughters –

Amarna Style