Ancient Egyptian Art - Lecture Notes
Overview
- Presentation by Dr. Amy Calvert, featured on Smarthistory.
- Focus on understanding the purpose and representation of ancient Egyptian art.
Understanding Ancient Egyptian Art
- Perspective: Must be considered from the standpoint of ancient Egyptians.
- Characteristics: Generally static, formal, abstract, and blocky, unlike later naturalistic art (e.g., Greek or Renaissance).
- Purpose: Served a different purpose than later art forms, often not meant to be seen.
Functionality of Art
- Intended Audience: Divine or deceased recipients.
- Statuary: Provided a place for the recipient to manifest and benefit from rituals.
- Frontality: Statues faced the ritual being performed before them.
- Spirit Interaction: Statuary acted as a conduit for the spirit (ka) to interact with the terrestrial realm.
Art Displayed in Museums
- Royal and Elite: Most art seen in museums was produced by elite workshops.
- Lesser-Known Objects: Museums often have many lower-status objects (e.g., small statuary, amulets) that are less frequently displayed but served the same purpose.
Three-dimensional Art Representation
- Materials:
- Stone: Formal, limited positions due to the nature of the material.
- Wood and Metal: More expressive, allowed for open spaces and varied positions.
- Functionality: Both types served the same function, preserving formalization and frontality.
Two-dimensional Art Representation
- Art Approach: Egyptian artists embraced two-dimensionality, focusing on recognizable aspects rather than realistic vistas.
- Composition: Elements are drawn from the most recognizable angle; grouped for holistic representation.
Register and Hierarchy in Art
- Registers: Scenes organized in parallel lines, providing ground lines for figures.
- Hierarchy of Scale: Larger figures depict higher status (e.g., kings larger than deities).
Text and Image Integration
- Captioning: Text often accompanies images, with hieroglyphs rendered as art.
- Hieroglyphs: Serve phonetic or logographic functions; sometimes blend text and image functions.
Summary
- Purpose of Egyptian Art: Always functional, aimed at benefiting owners, whether elite or not.
- Cultural and Historical Context: Essential for appreciating the art's significance and function within Egyptian society.
Additional Resources
- Bibliography: Including a chapter from "Reframing Art History" and tours at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
- Visual Aids: Images for teaching and learning are available for deeper engagement with the material.
Citation: Dr. Amy Calvert, "Ancient Egyptian art," Smarthistory, August 8, 2015. Accessed on Smarthistory.org.