Art Is an Expression

Art History 6A 19 November 2011 Triumph Art is an expression that we as humans do as a mode to express and communicate with others. Through art every painting/ forge has an intended purpose and message/story to convey. No matter what race, gender, or class, matchless can army what message is being sh ared or find an entirely opposite interpretation other than what the artist intended. It can relate to the individual on a personal level, and thats the beauty of art. In this assay I ordain be writing about twain pieces of art that have been around for thousands of years.I will be comparing and contrasting the Palette of King Narmer (back) and the painting Ti watching a hippopotamus hunt. Both murals contain symbolism, as well as concepts of sustenance and death. Each in their individual way conveys a message of importance and hold. The Palette of King Narmer dates back to the first Egyptian dynasty, from Hierakonpolis, c. 3000 B. C, it is flat in appearance and double-sided with engravings on both sides, each individual side separated into 3 distinctive sections by horizontal lines with the middle being the biggest.It stands approximately 25 inches (63. 5cm) in height and tapers down to a point. The grammatical construction of the piece is very similar to the outline of a shield. It is constitute of a dark color slate, harsh rock found in Egypt. Unlike the Palette the painting of Ti ceremony a hippopotamus move is much bigger almost double in size, standing 4 feet tall. It was created during the fifth dynasty, Saqqara, c. 2400 B. C. and is composed of painted limestone. Prior to the creation of the Palette of King Narmer, art was divided throughout Egypt.Egypt was divided geographically and politically into Upper and Lower Egypt. Society had an tension on becoming unified and the palate mark the unification of these two lands. King Narmer is famously known as the first king to rule these lands. The pallettes historic importance marks the tran sition from pre-historical to historical period in Egypt and serves as the foundation for generations of art glorifying kings. During the date of Ti watch a hippopotamus Hunt Egyptians had a very strong belief and emphasis in death and the afterlife.Death was rarely filled with a sense of fear, but instead embraced with open implements of war and seen as a necessary transition one must make to live in the afterlife. Egyptians constructed mastabas for the deadened. For this background there was a plethora of funerary offerings including statues, carvings, and paintings made and placed into mastabas. The Egyptians built their mastabas very similar to homes for the dead so when they entered the afterlife they would have all the necessities and luxuries they once had during their lifetime.Narmers palette was an object comm altogether used in the preparation of eye make up, used by the Egyptians mostly to block and shield out the sun. The palette is most likely a votive or gift to the gods. Whereas the painting of Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt was a funerary gift made to honor loved ones who have passed and entered their beside chapter in life. In both works of art, animals are portrayed but only in the palette do animals have true symbolic meaning. On the Back of the palette the upmost section portrays two cow heads one on each side, which appear to have human faces.This even offation depicts a conversion of interpretations the goddess Hathor, or the goddess bat, or just a symbolism for the Kings power and speciality, which is a common symbolism of a bull throughout Egyptian art. The true meaning of these symbolic bulls is unknown till this day imputable to the uncommon frontal portrayal of the bulls. Also in the back of the palette there stands a falcon, represent the god Horus- protector of kings. The falcon is placed on top of a head sitting on papyrus representing Lower Egypt. This signifies the triumph and power Upper Egypt had over Lower Egypt.I n the painting of Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt animals individually serve no significant value, but as a whole in Egyptian art a successful hunt is a metaphor for triumph over evil. In the palette of King Narmer there are a series of hieroglyphics used to intimate the powerful King Narmer making Narmers palette the earliest existing labeled piece of art. In amidst the bullheads are hieroglyphics of a cat lean (nar) and a chisel (mer) within a frame representing the royal palace. The fish also pays tribute to the Nile River since Egypt strived and lived off the river for all its resources such as food and water.In the painting of Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt there are no hieroglyphics used because it was intended for the dead. Its purpose served to represent and honor the loved ones passed. In Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt the artist incorporates a unique series of lines/patterns to bring structure and organization to the piece. This is portrayed in the water beneath the bo ats by a pattern of wavy lines that embody fish and hippopotami. In the pep pillmost of the painting the artist uses a series of fine grooves that lead into a commotion of birds and foxes resembling papyrus flowers.Similarly lines play a Important position in the Palette of Narmer. A series of Horizontal lines are used to break the palette into 3 distinctive sections. Without the use of lines, the palette would have no organization and would become chaotic. The portrayal of the body when referencing both Narmer and Ti is very similar. Showing the influence Narmers palette had in art. In both pictures the eye and upper body is in frontal view while the head and legs/feet are in profile view, one in front of the other, which was a very common depiction of important underframes.It was believed that by showing the Egyptians in this way all the body parts needed in the afterlife would be properly express and available to the deceased when needed. Slaves and animals were painted more natural and relaxed, and with a smaller scale in drawings to show there limited importance. In both pictures the artists illustrate both Narmer and Ti being the dominating and largest figure (which is calledhierarchical scale). In the palette of King Narmer, Narmer is significantly larger in his ceremonial beard vesture a bowling pin shape crown, which represents Upper Egypt.Attached to the end of his kilt is a bulls tail indicating the power and strength of Narmer. Behind King Narmer is a much smaller servant, most likely of high rank, carrying his sandals making Narmer barefoot. passim Egyptian art being barefoot symbolizes the person is on holy ground. In Narmers right overtake he holds a club, ready to strike a kneeling warrior he holds by the head with his leftfield hand. This once again signifies the power and strength of Narmer over his enemies. Below this scene are two whiskered men most likely enemies of the king lying dead symbolic of how lethal and victorious of a ru ler he is.In the mastaba of a Ti the painting Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt Ti is similarly portrayed. Ti is shown much larger and out of scale compared to his slaves depicted, representing his importance and kindly status. In Egypt a successful hunt was a metaphor for triumph over evil. Ti and his slaves are roaming through marshes, hunting hippopotami and birds. Ti unlike Narmer is distant away from the hunt, not engaging in the motion of killing the hippopotami but yet he is still present over looking his slaves during the hunt.He is a achromatic observer of life, resembling his Ka being at peace. Both murals use a variety of lines, symbols, and details not only to focus on the importance and triumph of Narmer and Ti but also make a integrated organized piece of art. The palette of Narmer represents this triumph over evil more straightforward being that Narmer has already killed two of his foes about to kill another, holding in the palm of his hand the power to give life or d eath. On the other hand the painting Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt is metaphorically representing victory and triumph through the hunt.