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I have always been interested in art, but never took the time to learn much about it. I did not know a great deal about where it all started. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact birth of Art, but I have learned that the Greeks were definite pioneers in the field. Through their art the Greeks have influenced empires including the Egyptians and especially the Romans. Through trade and other cultural crossovers the Greeks spread their art and other powerful influences. I had the privilege of learning about ancient art first hand, a wonderful and intriguing experience. As anything will with time, Greek art evolved over many eras and it has shaped the future of art. The Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic eras are the three eras of art I will be discussing
Each era has it’s own distinct characteristics. When I think of the Archaic era the artifacts or pieces that stick out in my mind most are the different Kouros, which we saw many of on our trip. We saw some at the Acropolis museum and some at the National archaeological museum of Athens. When looking at these sculptures you can see the effort put into forming them. Although they are said to be less detailed then the Classical and Hellenistic styles, they are still stunning in their own way. The Archaic era was the beginning of a breakthrough of art. All of the Kouros have similarities, but they also have their slight differences whether it be the height, the way their hair is or a faintly different position. When looking at each of them it’s as almost if the artist was scared to show what they were truly feeling, like they hide to keep their feelings inside. The tiny variabilities between the statues are the only things that show the diverse emotions of the artist.
As we go on to the Classical era things begin to become a little more complicated and not just when talking about in art. The struggles and tension throughout Greece produced more real life ideas, but idealistic art and sculptures. Facial expressions became what they should be, expressive of feelings. Some of the most beautiful sculptures ever came from this time period. We saw so much from this period during our trip that it’s hard to pinpoint only two to talk about. The bronze statue of Zeus and the Youth of Antikythera really impressed me. Both of us these statues show emotion in their body language. The eyes of the Youth of Antikythera capture you even more in person and really pull you in. We saw both of these statues at National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Lastly, I will mention the Hellenistic Era. At this time, Greek art was flourishing and becoming more intricate than ever before. It advanced on top of the Hellenistic style works and brought more realism to the forefront. Laocoon and his sons, which we saw at the Vatican, possesses emotion in every inch of the statue from the distress in each of their facial expressions, to the tension in all of their muscles. The time, concentration and detail put into this work is unimaginable and was truly amazing to see such artistry in person. Another work from this period that caught my eye was the Horse and Young Jockey. The way the horse looks scared as he pushed onward and how the little boy riding him looks so stern makes you think about what was going on in this seen. It makes you think how the little boy is so calm when it’s horse is showing so much reluctance. The way that this statue is perceived has all to do with the emotions expressed. Seeing these pieces up close had a much greater impact on me than seeing a picture. The larger than life size plays a big role in how you perceive them.
Art is all objective. It’s not just one way or one idea that makes art. It depends on the creator and the audience to make it what it is. Perception can skew any idea of art. Through time, the Greeks learned to express their ideas in a more real way and in doing so have given their audience a way to relate more to the works regardless if they intended to do so. It is harder to relate with the Kouros in the Archaic times because so much of their emotion seemed to be bottled up. By the time the Hellenistic styles came about it is much easier to relate to.
Now, thousands of years later, even if you cannot relate to the culture or lifestyle of the Ancient Greeks you can still relate to the emotions they were feeling because that is what they expressed through their art. The various emotions are something any individual can feel and have been preserved through the careful hands of the Greek artists over many years.
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