Figures of Ancient Egypt. Culture and art of Ancient Egypt

As a result of the combination of the Lower and Upperkingdoms to 3000 BC. e. The Ancient State was formed. According to the calculus of the priest Manetho, there were thirty dynasties. The state developed in all directions. Especially the art of Ancient Egypt was perfected. Let us briefly consider its main features.

General information

How did the art of Ancient Egypt express its ideas? In short, its purpose was to serve the needs of the then existing religion. First of all, it belonged to the state and funeral cult of the pharaoh. His image was deified. This is confirmed by the drawings of Ancient Egypt that have survived to the present day. In general, the ideas were expressed in strict canonical form. However, art has survived evolution, which reflected changes in both the spiritual and political life of the state.

Main results of development

In ancient Egypt, enoughmany classical architectural types and forms. Among them, in particular, include such elements as a column, an obelisk, a pyramid. There were new types of fine arts. Relief became popular enough. Quite interesting and monumental painting of Ancient Egypt. Local art institutions were formed.

At this time, many creativeindividualities. Ancient Egyptian artists comprehended and implemented the basic means of plastic arts in the system. In particular, in the architecture appeared support and overlapping, mass and volume.

Wall paintings of Ancient Egypt includedsilhouette, line, plane, color spots. The images felt a certain rhythm. The sculpture began to use the texture of wood and stone. It is also important that in the course of time a canonized form was formed in accordance with which the figure of a person on the plane was depicted. She was shown in the profile (legs, hands and face) and in the facial (shoulders and eyes) at the same time.

Main principles

The basic canons in the art of Ancient Egypt steelto form during the period 3000-2800 BC. e. The architecture of that time acquired a leading role. It was closely connected with the afterlife. The architecture was dominated by the principles of static and monumentality. They embodied the concept of the superhuman greatness of the Egyptian Pharaoh and the inviolability of the social order. These canons had a great influence on other spheres of culture. In particular, the painting and sculpture of Ancient Egypt were characterized by statics and symmetry, geometric generality, strict frontality.

The next stage of development

From 2800 to 2250 BC. e. Formed earlier artistic techniques began to acquire a stylistic completeness. A new architectural form of the tomb of the Pharaoh was developed. The geometric simplicity of the pyramid was used. Its forms in combination with huge sizes created an architectural image, full of superhuman, alienated greatness. The ceremonial order and hierarchy of Egyptian society is reflected in the strict rows of mastaba-like tombs, memorial temples connected to the entrance pavilions by covered long corridors, in the majestic figure of the Sphinx. Figures of Ancient Egypt in the tombs illustrated a prosperous life in the realm of the dead. In the paintings there is a sense of rhythm, sharp observation, characteristic of the artists, the beauty of the silhouette, the contour line and the color spot.

The period of bright heyday

It falls on the era of the New Kingdom. Thanks to successful campaigns in Asia, the everyday life of the nobility acquired exceptional luxury. And if dramatic images prevailed in the Middle Kingdom, now sophisticated-aristocratic forms began to be used. The architectural tendencies of the past era also developed. So, the temple in Deir el-Bahri (queen Hatshepsut) is a whole complex, deployed in space. It is partially cut in the rocks. Protodoric columns and cornices with their strict lines and reasonable ordering contrast with chaotic crevices in the rocks. Painting and sculpture of Ancient Egypt are becoming more elegant. This can be seen in the softly modeled statues, reliefs, murals. The processing of the stone became thinner. Especially popular was an in-depth relief using the game of chiaroscuro. Figures of Ancient Egypt acquired the freedom of foreshortenings and movements, the elegance of colorful combinations. In the images, the landscape began to be present. In the terrestrial temples, the open courtyard, a hypostyle with papyrus or lotus-like columns, was used as the main elements.

Pictures of Ancient Egypt

Images reflect the multifaceted talentspeople of that era. In all times of the Kingdom, drawings of the gods of Ancient Egypt were distributed. Religious themes were traced in all directions of culture. Figures of the gods of Ancient Egypt were adorned with sarcophagi, tombs, temples. The inhabitants of the Kingdom believed that earthly existence is only a stage before death, after which eternal life will follow. Figures of Ancient Egypt should have glorified the deceased. In the images there were motives for the movement of the deceased to the dead realm (the court of Osiris). They illustrated the earthly life of man. So he could do the same in the realm of the dead as on earth.

Statues

The sculptural portrait was notable for its special development. In accordance with the idea of ​​people of that era, the statues were twins of the deceased. Sculptures served as receptacles for the souls of the departed. The statues were fairly clearly divided into types. For example, a walking man was portrayed putting his foot forward or sitting with crossed limbs. Portrait statues, solemnly static, are distinguished by the accuracy and clarity of the transmission of the most significant characteristics, as well as the social status of the person portrayed. At the same time, jewelry, folds on clothes, headgear and wigs were carefully worked out.

Technical features

For almost four centuries, paintingEgypt was subject to strict canons. They were conditioned not only by the imperfection of technology, but also by the requirements of existing customs. Artists made mistakes in the future. In this regard, the ancient images are more like a map of the terrain. The figures in the background were greatly increased.

For drawing on a surface of drawing Egyptiansused soot, wood black coal, white limestone, iron ore (yellow or red). They also had blue and green colors. They were obtained using copper ore. The paints of the Egyptians were mixed with a viscous liquid, then divided into pieces. Wetting them with water, they drew. To save the image, it was covered with varnish or resin. Painting of Egypt was bright and colorful. However, in the palaces, temples, tombs paintings were not so many.

Finally

It should be said that, despite enougha great variety of colors for that era, the transmission of shade, shades and light was very conditional. In considering it can be noted that the drawings of the ancient Egyptians lacked realism. Nevertheless, in spite of certain inaccuracies and errors, the images contain a profound meaning. Their importance is confirmed by the position that the person occupied in art.