Essay 1

Essay #2B 

Title: Completeness and Truth

Question: How is it possible that what the Egyptians considered “completeness” could be misinterpreted as crude, naive or unrealistic and how does it affect the “truth” contained in their art.

Part I

Summary: Overall after doing research in my view I see no possible way that what the Egyptians considered “completeness” could be misinterpreted as crude, naive or unrealistic. I think their artwork represented “completeness” because they kept their art so real basing it on their beliefs, conventions, principles, and everyday life and this never changed. Figuring this out I experienced relief because I couldn't understand how their art and ideas could be misinterpreted in a negative way.

Reason: The reason for this question I think is to get us to see how art can be misinterpreted the wrong way and how it affects the real truth behind it.

Purpose: The purpose for this question I think is to see the truth contained in art and how ones view can change based on the truth and not to misinterpret a specific style or structure.

Direction: Before researching this question the direction I took was to figure out what the Egyptians idea of completeness was and to find out the truth contained in their art and why they made it this specific way.

Impressions: What impressed me the most is how they followed these conventions in their art however early and consistently following them over almost three millennia of its history.

Part II

After researching art of ancient Egypt I find it hard to consider Egyptian art work crude, naive or unrealistic in any way possible. I think the Egyptians idea of completeness depends on their belief and in the permanence of the natural, divinely ordained order. You see this consistently in their art work. Both architecture and representational art was pointed to the way they represented things such as the correct relationship between mankind, the king, and the pantheon of the gods. One example is “The Narmer Palette.” “This historically and artistically significant work of art was found in the temple of Hours. It is commonly interpreted as representing the unification of Egypt and the beginning of the country's growth as a powerful nation state. It employs many of the representational conventions that would dominate in royal Egyptian art from this point on.” (Art History, pg. 52-53, Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren) These Egyptian artists based their work to this strict order of principles. This is no where near crude, naive, or unrealistic because I respect that they were to follow these conventions and to me they kept their art so real because they based it on their observation of nature, religion and beliefs, influences, and everyday activities. “In their world view, the movements of heavenly bodies, the workings of gods, and the humblest of human activities were all believed to be part of a balanced and harmonious grand design.”(Art History, pg. 50, Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren) Not only did the art reflect every aspect of their lives but they put so much detail and hard work into their art. “A system of mathematical formulas was developed to determine design and proportions.” (Art History, pg. 51, Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren) The results of their work being so detailed shows that they gave it all and were determined when it came to their work. “Artists endlessly repeated the same themes and subjects, changing them only when beliefs changed.” (http://booksofart.com/ancient-art/Egyptian) Egyptian artists following the same format consistently shows that their idea of completeness was no where near naive. These artists avoided perspectives to achieve their edition of reality. I think they took the most characteristic aspect of each element and created an image. The Egyptians idea of “completeness” in my opinion pertains to the “truth” in their art because it represents it in many ways.