Ancient Egyptian art, a tradition spanning from the 6th millennium BC to the 4th century AD, encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, including paintings, sculptures, drawings on papyrus, faience, jewelry, ivories, and architecture. Characterized by its conservative nature, the style of ancient Egyptian art remained remarkably consistent over time.
The ancient Egyptian language lacked a specific term for "art," as artworks served a functional purpose deeply intertwined with religion and ideology. Rendering a subject in art was believed to grant it permanence, leading to idealized and often unrealistic portrayals of the world.
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Early Dynastic Period and Old Kingdom
The Early Dynastic Period of Egypt, around 3100 BC, followed the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. During this time, cosmetic palettes reached new levels of sophistication, and the Egyptian writing system underwent further development.
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2686-2181 BC), also known as the "Age of the Pyramids," saw the construction of the great pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty. Statues and portraits from this era reflect the grandeur and power of the pharaohs.
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Middle Kingdom
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt, lasting from around 2050 BC to around 1710 BC, marked a period of reunification after political division. Kings of the Eleventh and Twelfth Dynasties were able to return their focus to art. In the early Twelfth Dynasty, the artwork had a uniformity of style due to the influence of the royal workshops.
A room from the tomb of Sarenput II, at Aswan (Egypt).
Second Intermediate Period
The Second Intermediate Period saw the rise of the Hyksos, rulers originating from the Levant. They appropriated monuments from earlier dynasties, inscribing their names on them. The "Hyksos sphinxes" are examples of this, depicting Pharaoh Amenemhat III with unique traits.
New Kingdom
Egyptian Art for Kids – Learn About Pyramids, Temples & Paintings- Art History Lesson 002
The New Kingdom, from the 16th to 11th centuries BC, was Egypt's most prosperous time. The Pre-Amarna period saw a combination of Middle Kingdom techniques with foreign styles. Queen Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri showcases the artwork of this period with painted reliefs depicting funerary images, Hatshepsut's divine rule, and scenes from foreign lands.
Syrians bringing presents to Tuthmosis III, in the tomb of Rekhmire, circa 1450 BC.
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Amarna Art
Amarna art, named after Tel el-Amarna, where Pharaoh Akhenaten moved the capital, represents a significant interruption in Egyptian art style. This period saw a shift towards Atenism, the worship of the sun. Art from this era is characterized by movement and a "subjective and sensual perception" of reality.
Akhenaten's reign brought changes in the portrayal of the human body, with depictions often giving him feminine qualities. The royal family was elevated, with each member touched by the rays of the Aten. Temples in Amarna were open and lacked traditional Egyptian features.
Later Periods
During the Ramesside period, kings contributed to the Temple at Karnak, including the Great Hypostyle Hall. Interior carvings depicted king-god interactions, while exterior walls showcased military campaigns.
The Third Intermediate Period was marked by political instability and division. The Late Period saw Egypt taken over by the Persians and later by Alexander the Great.
Symbolism and Purpose
Ancient Egyptian art was deeply symbolic, aimed at creating order and reflecting the concept of Harmony Ma’at. Symbolism was vital in conveying power and religious beliefs, with colors holding specific meanings.
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Colors had profound meanings; the language had four basic color terms. Blue, representing the Nile's life-giving waters, symbolized fertility and birth. It, along with green, stood for rejuvenation and vegetation. Black represented Egypt's fertile soil, tied to fertility and rebirth. Gold symbolized divinity as the blood of the gods and goddess. Silver, termed "White Gold" was likened to "The Bones of the Gods". Red, orange, and yellow had dual meanings as symbols of the sun, and also tied to the desert and associated with Set.
Agricultural Scenes from the Tomb of Nakht, tempera on paper by Lancelot Crane and Norman de Garis Davies, c. 1915, copied from a wall in the tomb of the 18th-dynasty vizier Nakht, Thebes, Egypt; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Hieroglyphics, considered an integral part of ancient Egyptian art, were filled with pictures and symbols with independent or combined meanings. Egyptian literature contained artistic forms such as hymns, mythological texts, and mortuary texts.
Funerary Art
Ancient Egyptian funerary art was designed to make the afterlife more pleasant. Paintings on temple walls and tombs depicted journeys to the afterlife and scenes of the deceased before Osiris. Artifacts represented gods, kings, and queens in a grand manner.
Tomb art acted as a biography, documenting the life of the deceased. Murals, inscriptions, and paintings provided realistic images of daily life. Coffins were carved from materials like wood and gold, with images and writings from the Book of the Dead. Funerary masks elevated the wearer from mortal to divine status.
Animal art held great symbolic importance, representing gods, qualities, and aspects of life. Animals were mummified and displayed, and paintings depicted their roles in daily life and hunting expeditions.
Examples of Symbolism in Ancient Egyptian Art
The following table highlights the symbolism of colors and animals in ancient Egyptian art:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blue | Fertility, rebirth, life-giving waters of the Nile |
| Green | Rejuvenation, vegetation |
| Black | Fertile soil, rebirth |
| Gold | Divinity, blood of the gods |
| Silver | "The Bones of the Gods" |
| Red | Sun, desert, associated with Set |
| Lion | Power, strength, associated with the sun god Ra |
| Ibis | Wisdom, knowledge, associated with Thoth |
| Jackal | Associated with Anubis |
| Cow | Associated with Hathor |
| Falcon | Associated with Horus |
Artistic Conventions
Ancient Egyptian art was characterized by order, regularity, and detailed depictions. Artists aimed to preserve everything as clearly and permanently as possible. Completeness and exactness were preferred over cosmetic representation.
The main conventions of Egyptian art included frontality, axiality, and proportionality. The sizes of figures were determined by their importance, with larger figures indicating higher status. Each object in a scene was drawn from its most recognizable angle.
Text accompanied almost all images, with hieroglyphs serving as both writing and art. Colors were expressive, with red skin implying youth, yellow skin for women, and blue or gold indicating divinity.
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