During the Old Kingdom (c.2613-2181 BCE) art became standardized by the elite and all art was churned out relatively the same to reflect the tastes of the capital at Memphis. The greatest and most famous artworks of the Old Kingdom are the Pyramids and Great Sphinx at Giza. In the First Intermediate Period (2181 -2040 BCE), directly after the collapse of the Old Kingdom, artists could really represent their individual and regional tastes without constraint. The lack of a strong central government overseeing and demanding works meant that district governors could oversee the production of pieces that reflected their own territory. These different districts also found they had easier access to money since they were not sending as much to Memphis.
