Old Market Woman Analysis

The Ancient Greeks have been recorded in history as one of the most influential cultures to ever exist. Their contributions to science, politics, literature, and philosophy are still being studied and built upon all around the world. The art produced by this culture is still on display in museums everywhere, and is heavily studied by an aspiring art historian. Greek art is divided into several periods, starting with the earliest geometric paintings and ending with the lively, theatrical sculptures of the Hellenistic period. Varying greatly from the stiff, emotionless sculptures found earlier in Greek’s history the sculptures of the Hellenistic period really focused on the drama of the moment. The figures no longer had to be highly idealized …show more content…
with the earlier Greek work dating closer to the second century B.C.E. The figure in the statue is of an elderly woman who is very hunched over and looks as if she is truly struggling to walk. Unfortunately her arms have broken off, which suggests that they were probably reaching out from her body and not braced by any other stone. Her facial features, though they have clearly withstood some damage over time are high expressive and are still able to clearly present the image of a woman who is not in the prime of her life. She looks to be in pain, or in the very least a certain amount of discomfort. Her woolen garment hangs off of her body in a very classical “wet-linens” style. It is tight enough to allow the viewer a clear understanding of her basic anatomy, but loose and hanging in a way that suggest it is slightly too large for her. However, many art historians do not believe that she was a beggar as the familiar title may suggest. Instead there are several hints in the subject of the sculpture itself that suggest she may be an aging member of the upper-class on her way to a festival in honor of