If there is anything that could describe the world as it ages, it would be art. Art has been part of our history from the very beginning at which it has served as the earliest form of record of the events that occurred in the past. It also has illustrated and still illustrates life from different time periods and cultures. One recurring subject that appeared throughout the entire history of art is the depiction of man and how it has developed over the centuries. From the art of the Paleolithic period, ancient near East, ancient Egypt, Aegean and Greek cultures, one can see the different ways art have evolved to preserve the legacy of man along with the reflection of the values of the cultures.
First, the representation of humans began in the …show more content…
In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were often viewed as god-kings, whom the people "believed were also divine and could serve as intermediaries with the gods" (55). One way people learned to honor their leaders were to amount numerous monumental structures, statues, and tombs that may serve as the rulers' rest place in what they considered the afterlife. An example of these colossal works is the facade of the Temple of Ramses II wherein four gigantic statues of the pharaohs are set next to each other. These images were built to proclaim the greatness of the king. During this time period, the magnitude of the images of the people serves as a reflection of the magnitude of the person's importance in his/her nation. Art evolved as a form of not only telling common life stories but also as a way for people to leave evidence of their legacy for the present and future generations to …show more content…
In the Aegean culture, it's the latter and their message revolves around portraying contemporary life, a concept similar to that in the Mesopotamian period. However, their art did not mostly revolve around religion. For instance, in the Minoan period, emerged a fresco painting called the "Bull-leaping" which shows one of the ceremonial events that were prominent in the Minoan society (89). Unlike the other cultures that preceded the Aegean culture, art in this period celebrated simple human life by giving focus on activities that occupied people's time including their entertainment. Aegean art revolved not on the naturalism of human body but instead in the realistic life and environment that surrounded the
First, the representation of humans began in the …show more content…
In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were often viewed as god-kings, whom the people "believed were also divine and could serve as intermediaries with the gods" (55). One way people learned to honor their leaders were to amount numerous monumental structures, statues, and tombs that may serve as the rulers' rest place in what they considered the afterlife. An example of these colossal works is the facade of the Temple of Ramses II wherein four gigantic statues of the pharaohs are set next to each other. These images were built to proclaim the greatness of the king. During this time period, the magnitude of the images of the people serves as a reflection of the magnitude of the person's importance in his/her nation. Art evolved as a form of not only telling common life stories but also as a way for people to leave evidence of their legacy for the present and future generations to …show more content…
In the Aegean culture, it's the latter and their message revolves around portraying contemporary life, a concept similar to that in the Mesopotamian period. However, their art did not mostly revolve around religion. For instance, in the Minoan period, emerged a fresco painting called the "Bull-leaping" which shows one of the ceremonial events that were prominent in the Minoan society (89). Unlike the other cultures that preceded the Aegean culture, art in this period celebrated simple human life by giving focus on activities that occupied people's time including their entertainment. Aegean art revolved not on the naturalism of human body but instead in the realistic life and environment that surrounded the