This gallery includes representations, ideas and obsessions of how the human body was depicted throughout ancient history. The use of symmetry, balance, harmony and movement will be explored in ancient sculptures.The subject of what beauty is and how it was defined in the human body throughout history.
Bone figure of a woman, c. 3700–3500, From the collection of: British Museum
The bone figurine depicted in this image is that of a female; one of the first glimpses of ancient Egypt's perception of the female body in art. The piece is symmetrically balanced on each side of the shoulder and elbows. The geometric shapes from the top of the head begin with an oval shaped face, a center mass square, and a rectangular/oval shaped lower body.
Cycladic female figurine (canonical type, Spedos variety), Unknown, "2800-2300 BC" - "", From the collection of: Museum of Cycladic Art
This female figurine is called a (Canonical type, spedo..created in '2800-2300 BC"-") made of marble. Many of the figurines were females found in grave sites and in some way were considered a fertility figure. In this particular model, the work was rushed creating feet with four toes as opposed to five. The anatomy is just a symbolic depiction using stylized lines with a triangle shaped head, square chest, and minor carvings to separate shins and distinguish male and female parts.
Human figurine, Unknown, -2100/-2000, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
This human figurine (2100 BC-2000 BC) is depicted as an ornament handcrafted in wet clay. It was located in the Northeastern region of Syria. The figurine is described as having almost human-like features demonstrated in the details of the face, nose, eyes, neck, torso, and a lengthy lower body that is molded into a cylindrical shape base. These figurines were known to be used possibly as household deities for protection.
Unknown, 1550-1150 B.C., From the collection of: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
This sculpture is described as a Syrian Phoenician Warrior God found between 1500-1100 B.C. This sculpture is coated with silver, bronze and gold accents. The following lines are visibly seen in the shape of this figure; vertically (head to toe) horizontally (shoulders) and straight arms (used to create gestures where a spear and shield might have been held).
Statue of a Kouros, about 530 B.C. or modern forgery, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Statue of Kouros is a depiction of a nude male youth created about 530 B.C in Archaic, Greece. This statue was carved out of a marble block intended to show the superiority, beauty, and aristocracy of that culture. The male figure is symmetrically balanced (reflection) and almost perfectly mirrored down the center line; from the top of the head to the base of the feet.
The Kore with the almond-shaped eyes., Unknown, Around 500 BC, From the collection of: Acropolis Museum
The Kore or Korai (another term for maiden) statues commemorates the feminine culture in ancient Greece. The statues were unique and created to show a conspicuous display of the female form, with emphasis on the extravagant attire of women. The entire shape of the statue is static. The drapery is carefully designed with vertical lines which clearly creates rhythm, form, and texture in the fabric and hair.
The Kritios boy., Kritios sculptor, Post 480 BC, From the collection of: Acropolis Museum
This statue was carved from marble and is credited as a breakthrough in the primitive arts. Up until this time, the human body depictions in art lacked actuality to anatomy. What made this sculpture so lifelike is how Kritios Boy's muscles were showcased as a result of his stance. This stance accentuates the muscular physique showing depth, movement, and an asymmetrical balance .
Statue of a wounded warrior, I century A.D., From the collection of: Musei Capitolini
This sculpture depicts a reworking of a wounded warrior, originally created in 460 B.C. The emphasis of this sculpture is the torso with its muscular definition.The sculpture is also centralised around a dramatic theme of a warrior overcome and falling to his knees: brandishing what appeared to be a weapon in his right hand. A strong asymmetrical balance is visibly seen while actualizing fluid movement.
Amor and Psyche, Johan Tobias Sergel, 1787, From the collection of: Nationalmuseum Sweden
The sculpture of Amor and Psyche created around 1787; has a central theme of romanticism. Unlike some primitive sculptures pieces, this sculpture attracts the viewer to focus not only on the masterpiece of the human body but the love story being unveiled.The intrinsic features are created through the use of rounded and undulating lines used in setting the tone between Cupid and the woman
Pain, Clemente Islas Allende, 1910, From the collection of: Museo Nacional de Arte
This sculpture created in Mexico around 1910 depicts a naked woman seated on the ground wringing in emotional distress. This masterpiece allows the viewer to see artistry work in the muscular system as the woman gazes upwards where her tense muscles surface from the back of the ear, through the neck, down her torso, to the base of her forearms. The tense muscles produced sharp and angled lines which correspond to the distressed or anxious moment depicted in her state.
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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
