Sculpture is one of the most realistic ways to depict an object. From every angle, the viewer is able to see the tangible contours, details, and shadows light casts as it hits the sculpted figure. Sculpture brings the presence an object conveys into the space it is in. Throughout history, many cultures have sculpted figures embodied that many have embraced as beautiful. There were statues used to represent gods, preserve the well-being of an individual as they went to the afterlife, and demonstrate the naturalistic, realistic form of the human body. Sculptures can be used to depict a scene or decorate a space. As seen in the Gothic art, there are high relief sculptures of human and biblical characters carved with "natural proportions" over a church doorway or on columns. In Greek art, where “man is the measure of all things”, was essentially the evolution toward naturalism. Greek art produced many nude figures of ideal bodies which were sculpted naturalistically. In Paleolithic times, women were believed to be goddesses because they had the ability to give birth. They were sculpted to promote fertility. Different cultures have their own ideas, styles, and subject matter to show beauty. There can be sculptures large and dominant to show beauty and command respect, or smaller beautiful figures that one can indulge in and keep with them. Artists can use shading, perspective, colors, highlighting and other techniques to make a two dimensional image look three dimensional, however, sculpture interacts more effectively with the viewer and the space it is in. This is why sculpture so efficiently defines beauty.
