Sam Rosen
World History 1
Mr. Rivera
March 7, 2018
Art is an expression of oneself whether it be dancing, singing, writing poetry, painting or sculpting. In ancient Greece, citizens would use sculptures to show religious views, idols that they praised, and day to day life. The Greek view of beauty was idealized in perfect bodies with every detail drawn or sculpted in perfect proportion; they were obsessed with workings of the human body. Much of the art depicted the human body in action, running, dancing, cooking or bathing. Greek sculptures are divided into 7 time periods the first being Mycenaean Art then Sub-Mycenaean or Dark Age, Proto-Geometric, Geometric Art, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic in order. Early Greek sculptures were called Kouros, they were rigid and stood upright. The Greeks are highly respected for their sculptures, which made use of their natural supply of elements such as stone, marble, limestone, and clay to create their art. They represented the gods, historical events, and simple events of everyday living. They used these simple stones and clay to create sculptures of the human body, which were displayed in public places such as buildings, churches, homes, and shrines. The precision and skill behind these artifacts, inspired many of the architectural concepts in modern building and sculpture. In 2018 sculptures still show the influence of Greek art through their use of geometric forms and sensuality. Today, like in ancient times, sculptures are used to express political views or thoughts on just life. The art of Greece still shapes our ideas about what modern art.
When Greeks would create sculptures they would not include the subjects imperfections. Such as, “The faces that were in these sculptures are what the Greeks thought were ideal beauty.” These sculptures showed traits that were admired such as intelligence, pride, and grace. The Greeks were proud of where they lived so they would decorate places with statues and beautiful shrines. For instance, one of the best known shrines is the Parthenon in Athens, which was built with many sculptures of Athena to honor her. Greek art expressed ideals of harmony, balance, order and moderation. By moderation, the Greeks meant being simple, and not adding features or adornments that are not needed. However, the Greek support for moderation and simplicity, does not imply that they were not sophisticated and brilliant thinkers. Greeks are responsible for the fundamental ideas that guides us today, such as democracy, mathematics, philosophy as well as art and drama. Mathematical principles were implemented into their sculptures for symmetry.
The Greek idea of geometry in art has greatly influenced the world of abstract art and the use of geometric figures in sculptures today. Modern sculpture has volume which can be measured in height, width, and depth; it is three dimensional. When viewing a piece of sculpture, the piece looks different on every side. The forms and textures of a sculpture appear to change as the light changes on the sculpture. These changes add to the viewers appreciation for the sculpture. Special work areas, in addition to expert staff are necessary to create sculpture with bronze and other metals. “Beginning in the 1950s, welding metal, incorporating found objects, and recombining industrially prefabricated units were some of the significant approaches examined and accepted.” In the decade that followed sculpture questioned tradition and values and social criticism. “Minimalist artworks emphasized formal properties through tightly structured geometric form, and strove to eliminate, in visual and creative terms, the artists' process and presence.” Modern sculpture draws from classical art to everyday objects and news.
Both Greek and contemporary sculpture demonstrate the role of history, society, and culture. Knowledge of mathematics and science are important to Greek and contemporary sculpture. The geometric shapes in modern sculpture are a legacy from the Greeks. Modern art differs from greek art, in that beauty or perfection is not always the goal. Finally, by studying Greek sculpture and comparing it to modern sculpture a greater understanding is gained for all art.
Bibliography
Nardo, Don. Ancient Civilizations. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press, 2002.
Partridge, William Ordway. "Greek versus Modern Sculpture." Brush and Pencil 16, no. 5 (1905): 167-75. doi:10.2307/25503912.
Finkelstine, Christine. "Studying Contemporary Sculpture." Sculpture Magazine,
1. Accessed March 13, 2018. https://www.sculpture.org/documents/curriculm/
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