| Ancient Egyptian Art is one of the most | | | | noticeable for their very formal, even rigid stance |
| recognized, admired and collected art in the | | | | and posture, but their faces are always serene, |
| history of the world. From delicate gold jewelry to | | | | regardless of the scene in which they are |
| vivid paintings to massive statues dozens of feet | | | | depicted. There were very strict rules about how |
| tall, for over 5,000 years Egyptian art has | | | | a god or pharaoh could be represented, which |
| fascinated, delighted and awed generation after | | | | even included a prohibition against anything being |
| generation with its beauty, style and mystery. | | | | drawn in front of the face or body of the |
| While genuine ancient pieces of art are rare and | | | | pharaoh, even when the scene depicted clearly |
| extremely valuable, modern Egyptian artists make | | | | required it for any kind of realism. Realism was |
| beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by some | | | | simply not a goal of ancient Egyptian Art. It is |
| of the greatest recovered works from ancient | | | | these very formal and stylized rules that have |
| sites, and which adheres strictly to the styles | | | | made Egyptian Art one of the most widely |
| used by ancient artists. Jewelry in gold and silver | | | | recognized forms of art in the world. |
| with inlaid stones are fashioned after pieces of | | | | Over thousands of years Egyptian artists |
| jewelry recovered from ancient tombs. Papyrus | | | | adhered to this one style, which is quite |
| Paintings are painted in vivid color on genuine | | | | remarkable, especially as compared to the |
| papyrus, made using the same principles | | | | extreme differences in art expression that have |
| developed thousands of years ago on the banks | | | | occurred in the modern world in just the past 100 |
| of the Nile, where the papyrus plant grows to this | | | | years or so. The only acknowledged variations are |
| day. Paintings are executed in the style of | | | | in the portrayals of animals and common people |
| frontalism, one of the most striking characteristics | | | | as compared to the more formal depictions of |
| of ancient Egyptian Art.FrontalismFrontalism is the | | | | pharaohs and gods. As can be seen in many |
| style in which every known piece of ancient | | | | Egyptian paintings, animals and common people or |
| Egyptian art was produced. In paintings, the style | | | | slaves are represented in a more natural manner, |
| of frontalism means that the head of the | | | | though still within very strict and formulaic |
| character is drawn in profile, while the body is | | | | rules.This frontalist style is the primary reason |
| drawn from a front view. However, even though | | | | why ancient Egyptian art is so easily recognizable, |
| the face is in profile, the eye is drawn in full, as it | | | | and its appeal has lasted through many centuries |
| would be seen from the front. The legs always | | | | to this day.Ann M. Hession is the founder of |
| face the same direction as the head, with one | | | | Egyptian Artisans. A graduate of Harvard |
| foot forward and one back.Ancient Egyptian | | | | University, Ms. Hession has been fascinated by |
| figures, especially of gods and pharaohs, are | | | | ancient Egyptian art and culture since high school. |