Fowler
-Introduction -
In the art world something that is represented over and over again is the human body. It has been represented countless times and in a numerous amount of different ways. As time has passed, time periods have changed, art styles have changed but most importantly, the way that the human body is seen and depicted has also changed. This change has occurred for the better, over time artists have become more comfortable depicting the human body and made it seem almost more lifelike. This gallery will focus on how in ancient Greek art the human body has been depicted through figurines and sculpture. It will specifically focus on the Bronze Age, Dark, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic time periods.
The Bronze Age lingered around for many years, besides the Minoan or Mycenaean colonizations there was thought to been civilization on the Cyclades a group of small islands. The time frame for these islands is being considered Early Bronze Age. The figurine being depicted is a Female Figurine is from Cycladic period. The Cycladic period is best known for its small-scale objects found while excavating. This particular object is made from marble although at first glance does not look like it. The figurine
is of a woman crossing her arms and having her legs together. We can identify sex of the figurine due to the triangle placed in the genital region and what looks like breasts just higher than usual. This figurine is depicted with little to no facial expressions, no emphasis on the body (muscles) and disproportioned features (elongated neck and face, breasts where shoulders would be). Because the figurine’s stomach is emphasized it is thought that this doll could very well be a symbol of fertility or that the figurine is pregnant.
After the Bronze Age came a time for Greece called the Dark Ages. This new time period brought about different styles. One of the most known styles from this time period is the Geometric style. This style is when artists would fill the space of an object with shapes. The figure depicted is indeed geometric style but unlike most. This figurine of a man and centaur (half man half horse) is made from bronze and does not have shapes. This shows that geometric artists were indeed able to create the human body and understood that it does not need to have shapes on it to be geometric. The artist does use shapes to depict the body not simple shapes like circles, squares, triangles per se. The body in general has features that are semi disproportionate stick figure chest, large head, and large bottoms.
Archaic time period began roughly around 700 BCE. This time period is where you really start to see the change in the human body being depicted. This is a larger scale statue with much more detail. The artist begins to show muscle, defined facial features. You can tell not all is mastered though, at first glance most looks normal. The hands are a little larger than they should be and the one hand has been disfigured. The elements for this stiff statue are borrowed from Egyptian style this is clear by the hair and eye depictions.
Next in chronological order came the classical time period. This period began in in the early 5th century. This style is when there is noticeably some realization that indeed greek was starting to understand and learn about the human anatomy. This time period was not like others where they showed their art just standing still or posed. This specific example shown of the Grave Marker shows more than just one human body. This was chosen to show that artists were able to finally show overlapping of the human body and that there is some movement occurring. The bodily proportions as well as the facial expressions are coming along.
The final object of this gallery is a statue from the Hellenistic time period, the last time period before roman began. This object is a single male statue depicted from the knees up and also has no hands. Although the male is not fully depicted it is a good example of the human anatomy being depicted. The torso is so lifelike it is ridiculous. It is clear that if he were to have his whole body it would not be in a stiff posing position. It looks the way his thighs are composed that he would be in a nice leisurely stance. He has the body of an athlete, very muscular and defined.
The final object of this gallery is a statue from the Hellenistic time period, the last time period before roman began. This object is a single male statue depicted from the knees up and also has no hands. Although the male is not fully depicted it is a good example of the human anatomy being depicted. The torso is so lifelike it is ridiculous. It is clear that if he were to have his whole body it would not be in a stiff posing position. It looks the way his thighs are composed that he would be in a nice leisurely stance. He has the body of an athlete, very muscular and defined.
In conclusion the viewer of this gallery hopefully noticed and learned a little bit about how the depiction of the human body changed and grew for the better.
_Amanda Fowler
