Sunday, August 25, 2013

Developement in Greek culture of the standing nude male



     

                              Development  in Greek Culture of the Standing Nude Male
                                              

     The development of the standing male nude changed over time. It is possible to look at a piece of
sculpture, and be able give all the detail of its origin, and the period it was created.  Over time the 
proportion, the ability to depict motion, and the conception of a figure in space were
changed. It is interesting to see the development of the standing male nude in Greek sculpture,
and to be able to experience their culture through their works of art. Their sculptures told the
story of what was important in their society. Through it we begin to understand the culture which
idealized the male body. We see their attitudes towards women also in their sculptures of the
female form which, at least in the Archaic Period was always clothed. It wasn’t until the late
classical period that the female nude began to gain in popularity. Each culture learned things
from the preceding culture, and added to it their own individuality.
     The sculpture of the human figures began in Greece in the Archaic Style around c 600-480
BC. The Greeks learned from the Egyptians how to create life size sculptures, and they took the
information and adapted it to their own culture. Around 600 B.C. the New York Kouros was
made. It is a standing male figure that is carved out of marble, and is commemorative. They were
usually grave markers that represented an individual, and this one is life size.  They were found
in religious sanctuaries.  The Kouros can be compared to the statue of Menkaure. The Greeks did
put more emphasize on the human anatomy. The kouros is cut away from the original block of
marble, and is in a frontal pose. His left leg is forward with no bend. His arms are at his side with
                                                                                                                                   Hadley2
elbows back, and clenched fists. This is similar to the Menkaure. There is space between the
arms and body, and between the legs, and the body is detailed. This was not found in
Egyptian sculpture. Egyptian sculptures were clothed while Greek males were not, but they did
clothe the female sculptures. During this period they were able to suggest the power to move by
the positioning of the statue. Archaic sculptures of standing women were called Korai. The
female’s garments revealed the contours of her body, and she has the archaic smile.  The Greeks
felt that the male body was perfection. The emphasis on the anatomy increased tension while the
rectangularity of Egyptian convention did not build tension. The Kouros is curved, and the
knees,  the lower rib cage, and hair are detailed. The stance of the Kuros is positioned over both
legs , and with the addition of muscular definition it gives the feel of having the ability to move.
     There was a widespread use of bronze for large scale sculptures that were cast with the lost-
wax process. The most impressive bronze was the Posidon/Zeus as he either hurls his
thunderbolt or trident. His pose is commanding as he focuses, aims, and tenses his muscles to
throw. He is perfectly balanced between the ball of his right foot and his left heel. By slightly
bending his knees the sculptor gives the impression that he is about to spring. Greek artists
studied athletes as they practiced for the games. This gave them the information necessary to
create amazing pieces of art. Bronze use started in the Archaic period and went into the Classical
period.

     A good example of the Classical style is the Kritios Boy. Stylization decreased, but they did
maintain the smooth, wavy hair with a circle of curls around the head, and the body was an
organic structure of bone and muscle. They began to have the head slightly turned. The right leg
is slightly forward and bends at the knee while the left leg supports the weight. They are posed in
the contrapposto which uses the Latin word positus which means positioned and the word contra
                                                                                                                              
this means against. The contrast between rigid and relaxed elements gives the feeling of how
the human body works. It is like the statue freezes a moment in time for the enjoyment of future
generations.  The Olympics was a very important event, and the men who preformed did so in
the nude. It was an event for males, and females were not permitted. The Discus Thrower was
probably one of the athletes that were frozen in time for the appreciation of generations to come.

     Polykleitos of Argos’s work was thought of as the embodiment of  High classical style. His
Spear Bearer was called the canon. It dealt with a series of proportions that related one part of
the body to another and to the whole. Symmetry achieved beauty. “It is the emphasis on the
intelligible appearance that gives Greek art its ideal character.”(158)  The ratio 4:9 governs
proportions. The human form was idealized. It was usually young with no defect. They are well
proportioned and symmetrical, but lack personality. The male figures were idealized, and
showed a full appreciation for the perfection and beauty of the muscular proportions of the male
body. He created naturalism and balance.
     Late Classical and Pre-Hellenistic was influenced by the Praxitelean curve. Praxiteles used a
combination of contrapposto and in the round compositions. These were meant to be seen from
all sides. He created fluidity in the pose. He gave the shoulders, hips and knees a sloping angle
which gave a feel of realism. An example is the Aphrodite of  Knidos. It is a nude statue of the
goddess as she emerges from her bath. She reaches for a towel that is near a water jar. She is
slightly fleshier with a fuller face than Classical sculptures.  The changes he made emphasized
naturalism and movement which was a step towards the realism of the Hellenistic period.
     Lysippos created greater realism by making the figures head smaller and elongating the body.
This made a sculpture more realistic. He brought in the Hellenistic period. He did  a statue of
Socrates which shows him walking slowly and thinking deeply. He also did the Athlete with a
                                                                                                                               
Stigil. There is more movement implied, because the legs are positioned wider apart, and the
arms are outstretched. The athlete appears to swivel which draws the viewer into the movement.
Lysippos was able to do a wide variety of subjects always with great realism.
     It is interesting to see the development of the standing male nude in Greek sculpture, and to
be able to experience their culture through their works of art. 

Written by Kathleen Hadley 2006








No comments:

Post a Comment