From cave drawings to modern art, expression through imagery has always been an invaluable trait of mankind which defines our species as cultured and civilized. Modern man has uncovered and exploited secrets from ancient cultures all over the world, but few are as captivating or mystifying in the way that Egypt is. From the vast numbers of impressive pyramids, to the tiniest incisions of cryptic hieroglyphs, Egyptian art is famously recognizable for its signature style, storytelling, and symbolism. Though like all art within a certain culture, there are obvious and subtle variances between pieces. The sculptures of Mai and Urel, and Akhenaten and his family, each depict two sitting adults of a high class status, and are from the same era, however display great differences in the portrayal of the human form.
At first glance, the images are easily classified as similar. They are both obviously Egyptian, and show alike subjects. But upon closer examination, this is hardly the case. The former image, of Mai and Urel, is likely a more stereotypical representation of Egyptian art. They are two seated figures, a woman and man, both with profiled faces looking to the right, each wearing wigs, jewelry, and seemingly proper attire. Their limbs are symbolically positioned, with the woman embracing the man, and the man seated in front and facing away from the woman. These expressionless faces and rigid bodies could be interpreted as stoic; by this image alone, one would judge that the relationship between these two people was a very formal affair, perhaps an arranged marriage, as nothing about the scene reveals a hint of true companionship. However the lack of defined muscle, identifying facial features, or any obvious personal touch, may suggest that the image is not meant to be detailed, rather a quick rendering for the sole purpose of describing an event, as most Egyptian art exists to be read like a story.
In comparison, upon examining the piece of Akhenaten and his...