As a result of the unification of the Lower and Upper kingdoms by 3000 BC. e. the ancient state was formed. According to the calculation of the priest Manetho, there were thirty dynasties. The state developed in all directions. The art of ancient Egypt was especially actively improved. Let's 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, this applied to the state and funeral cult of the pharaoh. His image was deified. This is confirmed by the drawings of Ancient Egypt that have come down to the present day. In general, the ideas were expressed in a strict canonical form. However, art has experienced an evolution that has reflected changes in both the spiritual and political life of the state.
Key Development Results
In ancient Egypt, quite a lot of classical architectural types and forms were formed. These include, in particular,elements like column, obelisk, pyramid. New types of visual arts have emerged. Relief has become quite popular. The monumental painting of Ancient Egypt is also quite interesting. Local art institutions were formed.
At this time, many creative individuals appeared. Ancient Egyptian artists comprehended and implemented the basic means of plastic arts into a system. In particular, supports and ceilings, mass and volume appeared in architecture.
Wall paintings of Ancient Egypt included a silhouette, a line, a plane, color spots. There was a certain rhythm in the images. The textures of wood and stone began to be used in sculpture. It is also important that over time a canonized form was formed, in accordance with which a human figure was depicted on a plane. She was shown in profile (legs, arms and face) and frontal (shoulders and eyes) at the same time.
Guidelines
The main canons in the art of Ancient Egypt began to take shape in the period 3000-2800 BC. e. The architecture of that time acquired a leading role. She was quite closely connected with the afterlife. The architecture was dominated by the principles of static and monumentality. They embodied the idea 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 as well. In particular, the painting and sculpture of Ancient Egypt were distinguished by static and symmetry, geometric generalization,strict frontality.
The next stage of development
From 2800 to 2250 BC e. previously formed artistic techniques began to acquire stylistic completeness. A new architectural form of the Pharaoh's tomb was developed. The geometric simplicity of the pyramid was used. Its forms, combined with its enormous size, created an architectural image full of superhuman, aloof grandeur. The ceremonial orderliness and hierarchy of Egyptian society is reflected in the strict rows of mastaba-shaped tombs, funeral temples, connected to the entrance pavilions by covered long corridors, in the majestic figure of the sphinx. Drawings of Ancient Egypt in the tombs illustrated a prosperous life in the realm of the dead. The paintings show a sense of rhythm, keen observation, characteristic of artists, the beauty of the silhouette, contour line and color spot.
Bright bloom period
It falls on the era of the New Kingdom. Thanks to successful campaigns in Asia, the life of the nobility acquired exceptional luxury. And if during the period of the Middle Kingdom dramatic images prevailed, now refined aristocratic forms began to be used. Architectural trends of the past era have also been developed. So, the temple in Deir el-Bahri (Queen Hatshepsut) is a whole complex deployed in space. It is partially carved into the rocks. Protodoric columns and cornices, with their strict lines and reasonable order, contrast with the chaotic crevices in the rocks. Painting and sculptureAncient Egypt become more graceful. This can be seen in the softly modeled statues, reliefs, murals. Stone processing has become thinner. Particularly popular was the in-depth relief using the play of chiaroscuro. The drawings of Ancient Egypt acquired the freedom of angles and movements, the elegance of colorful combinations. Landscape began to appear in the images. Above-ground temples used a colonnaded open courtyard, a hypostyle with papyrus or lotus-shaped columns as the main elements.
Drawings of Ancient Egypt
Images reflect the versatility of the talents of people of that era. At all times of the Kingdom, drawings of the gods of Ancient Egypt were common. Religious themes were traced in all areas of culture. Drawings of the gods of Ancient Egypt adorned sarcophagi, tombs, temples. Kingdom dwellers believed that earthly existence was only a stage before death, followed by eternal life. Drawings of Ancient Egypt were supposed to glorify the deceased. The images contained motifs of moving the deceased to the dead kingdom (the court of Osiris). They also 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 distinguished by a special development. In accordance with the idea of the people of that era, the statues were twins of the dead. Sculptures served as receptacles for the souls of the dead. The statues were quite clearly divided into types. For example, depicteda walking person with a leg forward or sitting cross-legged. Portrait statues, solemnly static, are distinguished by the accuracy and clarity of the transfer of the most significant characteristic features, as well as the social status of the person being portrayed. At the same time, jewelry, folds in clothes, hats and wigs were carefully designed.
Features of technical performance
For almost four centuries, the painting of Egypt was subject to strict canons. They were caused not only by the imperfection of technology, but also by the requirements of existing customs. Artists made mistakes in perspective. In this regard, ancient images are more like a map of the area. At the same time, the figures in the background were greatly enlarged.
The Egyptians used soot, black charcoal, white limestone, iron ore (yellow or red) to apply the pattern to the surface. They also had both blue and green colors. They were obtained using copper ore. The Egyptians mixed the paints with a viscous liquid, then divided them into pieces. Wetting them with water, they painted. To preserve the image, it was covered with varnish or resin on top. The painting of Egypt was distinguished by its brightness and brilliance. However, there were not so many paintings in palaces, temples, tombs.
In closing
It should be said that, despite the rather large variety of colors for that era, the transfer of shadows, shades and light was very conditional. On examination, it can be noted that the drawings of the ancient Egyptians lacked realism. Nevertheless, despite certain inaccuracies and errors, the images have a rather deep meaning. Their significance confirms the position that a person occupied in art.
