~The word 'art' is a modern, Western term that had no meaning to the Egyptians. What we see as      'art' they would see as representation.

~To understand Egyptian 'art' you have to understand Ancient Egyptian culture.

~Religion was central to Egyptian life and art performed a religious function.

~Ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife – needed certain conditions: i.e. body (mummification), food offerings, and blessing of the Gods.

~They realised substitutes were needed in case these things ran out, were destroyed or stolen. Reserve head, statues, wall paintings of the deceased with table of food and drink, offering trays, painted portraits.

~These were not just pretty to look at they actually became the real thing and were performing an essential function.

~This idea also worried the Ancient Egyptians. Early on hieroglyph signs of snakes, which were seen as dangerous animals were mutilated, dagger in their backs just in case they decided to harm the tomb owner. Reserve head.

~As these were to become the real thing and allow the tomb owner to live forever it was essential to show the tomb owner at his/her best and in the prime of life even if they died in old age. They are always seen dressed in their best clothes even if they are hunting in the marshes and their best clothes are not suitable! Also each individual item was seen from the best angle: human torso and eyes from the front, arms and legs from the side, causing the figure to look distorted. A pond or lake (Lake of fire) was seen from above while the trees around it are seen from the side.

~Perspective was hardly used. You can get an idea of social structure and a person’s importance in Egyptian paintings. The largest figure in a family group is nearly always the man, his wife is shown in a much smaller scale and the children are miniature adults.

~The images are not always how they really looked but an idealised image intended to allow the tomb owner eternal life.

~Artists and sculptures at court were instructed to show the king as an idealised figure, powerful and perfect. However, for a brief time during the Amarna period (C.1350 BC) artists were instructed to portray what they saw, warts and all! Akhenaten – protruding belly, elongated head, long face. Not very attractive. But the best naturalist art, vegetation, flowers, nature. Wall plaster, Vases. This era also shows tender scenes between the members of the royal family, not the normal severe portrayals.

~Animal images are important as Egyptian Gods could take animal form, animals were mummified and their images worshipped. The god gave their blessing and protection (lions legs funerary furniture). Also they feared dangerous animals such as crocodile, hippopotamus by making them into gods they became less of a threat.

~Groups of animals were also seen in horizontal rows one above the other, depicting order and harmony. Many Egyptian paintings are symmetrical giving the sense of balance and harmony (coffin fragments, painted shroud). Egyptians feared chaos and disorder would descend upon them if they showed life as chaotic.

~The Egyptian artist was not recognised, there was no concept or word for art the nearest word was craft and artists were considered craftsmen. There was no distinction between art and craft. His subject’s name was much more important to enable the subject to live forever.

~Paintings were mostly flat colour, some experimentation with shading.

Large areas were painted using a coarse brush of palm fibres or pieces of wood chewed or beaten. Separate brushes were used for different colours.

~Depth was shown by over-lapping figures which were of the same size, we show objects smaller if they are further away from us.

~The first draft was on a small piece of wood covered plaster with grid lines. The work was copied onto the wall, which was painted with red grid lines.

~Egyptian art seen on plastered walls, floors, stone, pottery, wood, linen, papyrus, glass, faience and metal. served as religious function, a sign of importance and lastly, possibly, decoration: We do not know if the Egyptians decorated anything simply to make it look pretty. What do you think?

Bibliography

We think the best book is by Gay Robins The Art of Ancient Egypt