The Human Body Essay, Research Paper
Before the portrayal of the human body can be critiqued, you must understand the artist’s culture.
As man evolved over centuries, his views of the body also transformed. Our tour definitely showed
the drastic changes in different cultures’ art. Each culture and era presents very distinct
characteristics. Through time and experimentation, we have expressed our views of the human
body clearly with our art. Egyptians were the first people to make a large impact on the world of
art. Egyptians needed art for their religious beliefs more than decoration or self-gratification. The
most important aspect of Egyptian life is the ka, the part of the human spirit that lives on after
death. The ka needed a physical place to occupy or it would disappear. Most of the important men
of Egypt paid to have their body carved out of stone. That was were the spirit would live after the
man dies. They used stone because it was the strongest material they could find. Longevity was
very important. The bodies are always idealized and clothed. Figures are very rigid, close-fisted,
and are built on a vertical axis to show that the person is grand or intimidating. Most of the figures
were seen in the same: profile of the legs, frontal view of the torso, and profile of the head. Like
most civilizations, Egyptians put a lot of faith in gods. The sky god Horus, a bird, is found in a
great amount of Egyptian art. Little recognition was ever given to the artists. The emphasis was on
the patron. Early Greek art was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Geography permitted both
cultures to exchange their talents. The beginning of Greek art is marked by the Geometric phase.
The most common art during the Geometric phase was vase painting. After the vase was formed
but before it was painted, the artist applied a slip (dark pigment) to outside. Then the vase was fired
and the artist would incise his decorations into the hard shell. It was important to incise humans
into the fired slip and not paint with slip. The people in the pictures needed light colored skin,
which was the color beneath the slip, because Greeks wanted to make their art as realistic as
possible. Much like Egyptian art, the Greeks idealized the bodies of the people in their works. As
the Archaic Period evolved, Greek sculptures were almost identical to the Egyptians’. Unlike
Egyptians, the Greeks refined their techniques. Greeks used marble to construct their sculptures. It
was considered more valuable and beautiful than any material available. They softened the lines of
the body. Greek sculptors slowly perfected every contour in the human figure. Greek people
viewed the human body as something beautiful and so they depicted nude men. Women were
eventually nude but only when there was a reason, they needed to be bathing or something where
they would be naked. They people that are sculpted are always young and their bodies are still
idealized. The Greeks invented contrapposto, the relaxed natural stance of a sculpture. A figure that
is standing in contrapposto becomes a sculpture in the round, meaning that the emphasis is not
only on a frontal view but also from all angles. The Hellenistic Period emerged as the Romans
began to produce some of the finest art in history. This new revolutionary style was incredible.
Figures weren’t confined to the unnatural or boring positions they had for centuries. All body parts
were in perfect proportion. These statues came alive as their limbs reached out into space. Vacant
stares evolved into human emotions, which were easily recognized on their faces. I think this
renaissance portrayed the way people were thinking. They were exploring philosophy, religion, and
politics. This was a time for rebirth. Christian art was introduced during the middle of the second
century. In many cases the only difference between Christian art and Hellenistic art is the religious
subject matter. After a slow start the Christians introduced something new, the mosaic. Mosaics
became a favorite medium for decorating churches. Man was viewed in religious scenes due to the
spread of Christianity. Byzantine and medieval art was very representative. The artists’ ability to
produce lifelike figures had regressed. The emphasis was not on man anymore. Their art was made
to glorify God. The fifteenth century marked the arrival of the Renaissance. Artists have finally
recaptured the amazing detail and realism that the Greeks and Romans perfected. Artists pushed
the limits with new exciting mediums and bright colors. Filippo Brunelleschi, allowed artists to
determine the relative size of each figure by inventing the vanishing point perspective. With that
tool it was possible to put everything in perfect proportion. Humans were not always idealized as
they were in earlier centuries. Many elderly people are found in the paintings. Neoclassical
paintings commonly showed contemporary garments and scenes. History painting became very
popular. A larger transition was made when color was used to set a mood or express inner feelings.
Nothing like this had ever been considered. Man viewed his experiences as important stepping
stones. To assure that experiences aren’t forgotten they were preserved in artworks. Humans are
often used in modern art. Although the people may appear very large or important, they are usually
just vehicles used to convey a message to the audience. In Segal’s Red Light, we saw a man
walking alone in front of n old truck. The man was not colored at all. He seemed to be sauntering
across a street at night. A feeling of depression or sadness surrounds the man. The human is not
important but the emotion is. Most of the modern art uses the human body to portray a feeling or
emotion. Rarely will you find any new art that displays a humans because they extraordinary.
Romantic landscaping is incredible. The idea of most of these pieces is to show how insignificant
man is. Before humans were always the center of attention but now here they are almost trivial.
Artists like Thomas Cole show us what is pure and simple. The paintings use a lot of color to
create very natural, unaffected scenes. It seems that we come upon these landscapes almost by
accident. They depict ideal settings that are unscathed by the injustices of the world. In my opinion,
the beauty of these works is unsurpassed by any other art. Through the ages each culture had its
own interpretation of what the human body means. I have briefly explained a few of the broadest
views of the human body. In order to explain one in great detail would take volumes. I thoroughly
enjoyed Mona’s tour of the museum and I hope to see her there again.
Bibliography
Before the portrayal of the human body can be critiqued, you must understand the artist’s culture.
As man evolved over centuries, his views of the body also transformed. Our tour definitely showed
the drastic changes in different cultures’ art. Each culture and era presents very distinct
characteristics. Through time and experimentation, we have expressed our views of the human
body clearly with our art. Egyptians were the first people to make a large impact on the world of
art. Egyptians needed art for their religious beliefs more than decoration or self-gratification. The
most important aspect of Egyptian life is the ka, the part of the human spirit that lives on after
death. The ka needed a physical place to occupy or it would disappear. Most of the important men
of Egypt paid to have their body carved out of stone. That was were the spirit would live after the
man dies. They used stone because it was the strongest material they could find. Longevity was
very important. The bodies are always idealized and clothed. Figures are very rigid, close-fisted,
and are built on a vertical axis to show that the person is grand or intimidating. Most of the figures
were seen in the same: profile of the legs, frontal view of the torso, and profile of the head. Like
most civilizations, Egyptians put a lot of faith in gods. The sky god Horus, a bird, is found in a
great amount of Egyptian art. Little recognition was ever given to the artists. The emphasis was on
the patron. Early Greek art was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Geography permitted both
cultures to exchange their talents. The beginning of Greek art is marked by the Geometric phase.
The most common art during the Geometric phase was vase painting. After the vase was formed
but before it was painted, the artist applied a slip (dark pigment) to outside. Then the vase was fired
and the artist would incise his decorations into the hard shell. It was important to incise humans
into the fired slip and not paint with slip. The people in the pictures needed light colored skin,
which was the color beneath the slip, because Greeks wanted to make their art as realistic as
possible. Much like Egyptian art, the Greeks idealized the bodies of the people in their works. As
the Archaic Period evolved, Greek sculptures were almost identical to the Egyptians’. Unlike
Egyptians, the Greeks refined their techniques. Greeks used marble to construct their sculptures. It
was considered more valuable and beautiful than any material available. They softened the lines of
the body. Greek sculptors slowly perfected every contour in the human figure. Greek people
viewed the human body as something beautiful and so they depicted nude men. Women were
eventually nude but only when there was a reason, they needed to be bathing or something where
they would be naked. They people that are sculpted are always young and their bodies are still
idealized. The Greeks invented contrapposto, the relaxed natural stance of a sculpture. A figure that
is standing in contrapposto becomes a sculpture in the round, meaning that the emphasis is not
only on a frontal view but also from all angles. The Hellenistic Period emerged as the Romans
began to produce some of the finest art in history. This new revolutionary style was incredible.
Figures weren’t confined to the unnatural or boring positions they had for centuries. All body parts
were in perfect proportion. These statues came alive as their limbs reached out into space. Vacant
stares evolved into human emotions, which were easily recognized on their faces. I think this
renaissance portrayed the way people were thinking. They were exploring philosophy, religion, and
politics. This was a time for rebirth. Christian art was introduced during the middle of the second
century. In many cases the only difference between Christian art and Hellenistic art is the religious
subject matter. After a slow start the Christians introduced something new, the mosaic. Mosaics
became a favorite medium for decorating churches. Man was viewed in religious scenes due to the
spread of Christianity. Byzantine and medieval art was very representative. The artists’ ability to
produce lifelike figures had regressed. The emphasis was not on man anymore. Their art was made
to glorify God. The fifteenth century marked the arrival of the Renaissance. Artists have finally
recaptured the amazing detail and realism that the Greeks and Romans perfected. Artists pushed
the limits with new exciting mediums and bright colors. Filippo Brunelleschi, allowed artists to
determine the relative size of each figure by inventing the vanishing point perspective. With that
tool it was possible to put everything in perfect proportion. Humans were not always idealized as
they were in earlier centuries. Many elderly people are found in the paintings. Neoclassical
paintings commonly showed contemporary garments and scenes. History painting became very
popular. A larger transition was made when color was used to set a mood or express inner feelings.
Nothing like this had ever been considered. Man viewed his experiences as important stepping
stones. To assure that experiences aren’t forgotten they were preserved in artworks. Humans are
often used in modern art. Although the people may appear very large or important, they are usually
just vehicles used to convey a message to the audience. In Segal’s Red Light, we saw a man
walking alone in front of n old truck. The man was not colored at all. He seemed to be sauntering
across a street at night. A feeling of depression or sadness surrounds the man. The human is not
important but the emotion is. Most of the modern art uses the human body to portray a feeling or
emotion. Rarely will you find any new art that displays a humans because they extraordinary.
Romantic landscaping is incredible. The idea of most of these pieces is to show how insignificant
man is. Before humans were always the center of attention but now here they are almost trivial.
Artists like Thomas Cole show us what is pure and simple. The paintings use a lot of color to
create very natural, unaffected scenes. It seems that we come upon these landscapes almost by
accident. They depict ideal settings that are unscathed by the injustices of the world. In my opinion,
the beauty of these works is unsurpassed by any other art. Through the ages each culture had its
own interpretation of what the human body means. I have briefly explained a few of the broadest
views of the human body. In order to explain one in great detail would take volumes. I thoroughly
enjoyed Mona’s tour of the museum and I hope to see her there again.