ASSIGNMENT #2: FORMAL ANALYSIS AT THE MET
As time goes on we, as human beings, are always changing. Countries grow, languages die and new trends emerge as cultures evolve. However, as much as things change throughout history a lot can remain the same, or reoccur in the same way. Meaning that something like style, for example, often will take ideas and/or concepts from a previous time and use it again in a very similar yet new way. As the saying goes, “history tends to repeat itself.” This is a very true statement whereas history does ten to repeat itself in a way, especially through artwork. Art as a whole is a major part of culture. It’s used to portray, convey, reflect and worship. The following two sculptures from different dynasties …show more content…
There are many similarities between the Seated scribe and the Haremhab as a Scribe of the King sculpture, but there are also many differences that make the time gap apparent. Being a scribe was both a very important title for each culture. Having the knowledge to be able to call yourself a scribe was a great honor for both dynasties. In the 4th Dynasty scribes were always depicted cross-legged on the floor as a representation of how the spent most of their time. Scribes were always seated in this position and extending their knowledge onto scrolls. Then 14 dynasties later, they can still be found the same way. Another representation of a scribe that stayed the same in both cultures is they fact that they are both shown with full bellies. Both sculptures found it important that to sculpt a representation of a scribe they need to be shown having full bellies. Since they weren’t nearly as high in social status as the Pharaoh and his/her family, scribes had to be depicted another way. You can find statues of Pharaohs and the royal family standing straight, tall with stoic expressions, youthful faces and flat tummies. This was to make them look more beautiful and grander than anyone else. Scribes weren’t as important as the royal family, but they were high up in the social ladder, and since they weren’t a worker or a slave they could afford to have their stomach be full most of the time. A scribe’s job didn’t involve much labor so therefore they were able to keep their bellies full making their fruitfulness evident. These reasons go for both dynasties making that a huge similarity between the two. Now, a major difference that really jumps out at me is the age different between them. In the 4th Dynasty, age was of importance to being a scribe. The Seated scribe was a rare circumstance in which a statue was shown aging in Egyptian
As time goes on we, as human beings, are always changing. Countries grow, languages die and new trends emerge as cultures evolve. However, as much as things change throughout history a lot can remain the same, or reoccur in the same way. Meaning that something like style, for example, often will take ideas and/or concepts from a previous time and use it again in a very similar yet new way. As the saying goes, “history tends to repeat itself.” This is a very true statement whereas history does ten to repeat itself in a way, especially through artwork. Art as a whole is a major part of culture. It’s used to portray, convey, reflect and worship. The following two sculptures from different dynasties …show more content…
There are many similarities between the Seated scribe and the Haremhab as a Scribe of the King sculpture, but there are also many differences that make the time gap apparent. Being a scribe was both a very important title for each culture. Having the knowledge to be able to call yourself a scribe was a great honor for both dynasties. In the 4th Dynasty scribes were always depicted cross-legged on the floor as a representation of how the spent most of their time. Scribes were always seated in this position and extending their knowledge onto scrolls. Then 14 dynasties later, they can still be found the same way. Another representation of a scribe that stayed the same in both cultures is they fact that they are both shown with full bellies. Both sculptures found it important that to sculpt a representation of a scribe they need to be shown having full bellies. Since they weren’t nearly as high in social status as the Pharaoh and his/her family, scribes had to be depicted another way. You can find statues of Pharaohs and the royal family standing straight, tall with stoic expressions, youthful faces and flat tummies. This was to make them look more beautiful and grander than anyone else. Scribes weren’t as important as the royal family, but they were high up in the social ladder, and since they weren’t a worker or a slave they could afford to have their stomach be full most of the time. A scribe’s job didn’t involve much labor so therefore they were able to keep their bellies full making their fruitfulness evident. These reasons go for both dynasties making that a huge similarity between the two. Now, a major difference that really jumps out at me is the age different between them. In the 4th Dynasty, age was of importance to being a scribe. The Seated scribe was a rare circumstance in which a statue was shown aging in Egyptian