Development of Art Throughout History

Essay by sum1writingCollege, UndergraduateB+, April 2004

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The evolution of sculpture in ancient Greece is one of the most forthright examples of how art changes with the times and thoughts of the people. People, the Greeks in particular, were putting themselves in high standing as the epitome of form and relative celestial importance. There was an obvious transition of their work from the Archaic to the Classical Period. It became more refined as time passed and this showed me an example of how slow change produces dramatic effects. Three figures, created over an approximate period of 150 years, show the progress. From the 580 B.C.E. Kouros to the 525 B.C.E. Kuros from Anavysos to the Doryphorus of 450-440 B.C.E. With the increasing concern for the self in Greek culture we see a shift happening that is recorded in the attention and development of their art. Amazing changes began to take place and the sculptures serve as markers for an awakening of the human consciousness as we can see in later pieces.

The naturalism of the sculptures seem to increase dramatically from the first, where the shoulders are wider than the hips and little detail is given to the chest and arms to the second, where the chest and stomach are better defined and the hips are better proportioned to the shoulders. More detail is given to muscle tone and shape in the second sculpture. The final piece is the culmination of decades and even centuries, of advancing realization in Greek art. We see the style moving into its most refined stages with hints of more beautiful and awe-inspiring works just over the horizon. One arm is relaxed while the opposite leg is also. The other leg and arm are tense. The head and hands are in perfect proportion and the figure looks as if it would move...