Egypt Human Figure

The human figure has been the most common subject and focus in visual art for thousands of years. Some of the earliest known representations of the human body date to nearly 38,000 years ago. The earliest depiction of human forms being pre historic sculptures of female figures thought to be symbolic of fertility due to their exaggerated reproductive organs. In nearly every culture around the world depictions of the human figure remain both central to spiritual, and decorative art even to the present day. One form of this artistic visual representation is sculpture. Sculpture is the action of processing by carving, molding, or welding hard materials into a three dimensional object. The earliest known Sculpture as a medium attained a realistic

This occurred in both complexity and achievement marking great advancements in both architecture as well as cultural organization. This time was one of the most dynamic periods in the development of Egyptian art. During this period artists learned to express their culture and worldview. They created for the first time images and forms that endured for generations. Architects and masons started to master the techniques necessary to build monumental structures in stone. Sculptors created the earliest portraits of individuals and the first life size statues in wood, copper, and stone. Egyptians perfected the art of carving intricate relief decoration. Through precise observation of the natural world they were able to produce detailed images of animals, plants, and even landscapes, using this to record the essential elements of the world for eternity in scenes painted and carved on the walls of temples and tombs. This artistry is seen with the Striding figure created in the 4th century 2575–2465 B.C. Made out of Quartzite, and paint. The human figure was created for an special tomb in the south of Egypt. The male figure has broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and muscular limbs of a heavyweight athlete. His hands and feet are excessively large, and the canonical striding pose looks to be almost aggressive in manner. The striding figure is an example of stylization and idealization. Stylization being that the figures exhagerated features are not that of a normal human but instead one meant to depict perfection. This goes hand in hand with the elements also of idealization demonstrated by the figures structured features, that seem almost godlike in their perfection. The sculptures broad mouth under a thin moustache is set with a look of determination. The deep folds beside he nostrils give