Part 1
Significance essay 1
This essay presents the stylistic significance of the Gandhara Buddha sculpture picture. The sculpture was created between the first and second century. Some of the pertinent features of the image were the face appearance. The face is oval with an inherently deep carving of the eye sockets. Another observable feature of the image is the nose protrusion. The robes depicted in the image are of Grecian dressing style. The long hair lobes enhance the Buddhist look of the image as well as its monastic presentation. The urna located at the middle of the face is a clear presentation of the high sense of perfection of the artist. The image is an elaborate representation of the Greco-Buddhist art where idealistic realism was pertinent. From the sculpture, the lobes have folds that are associated with Greek-art.
The artwork is stylistically significant to Buddhism. The representation of Buddha was instrumental in depicting him as a being of high perfection. This artwork was associated with the early ages of realistic idealism. This is where the proportionality of artwork was a representation of reality. In the artwork, the human face and the other parts of the body are proportional. A high sense of serenity is observable in the sculpture. This presents Buddha in human realism as well as the mysterious god. The Gandharan art marked the start of representing Buddha as a human being. This was contrary to other representation, which used inanimate things to represent Buddha.
The stylistic influence of the sculpture is associated with the trend of Greco-Buddhist sphere of influence. The center of the influence was in Gandhara spreading across the entire present day Pakistan. The influence further spread to the north in different parts of central Asia. Gandhara was a kingdom located in present day Pakistan which started as a part of the Persian Empire. It is pertinent to note that the sculpture’s realistic detail was influenced by the interactions of the artists of Gandhara and foreigners. Some of the foreigner artistic influences believed to have a bearing on the shift of representing Buddha using a symbol of an open space were roman artists. Moreover, the interactions with the Greek artist about 2000 years ago resulted to the adoption and appreciation of artistic realism. The sphere of influences led to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style, which would later take a center stage in Buddhism across the world. The spread of the Greco-Buddhist art to other parts of Asia retained many inherent features. However, different regions introduced unique local features to their Buddha artworks.
Part 2
Analysis of cultural context
This image that represents the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. The artwork is a representation of a marriage that existed mid the tenth century. The sculpture is made of pink and unique sand stone and measures about eighty centimeters. The sculpture can be traced back to the other part of India known as Uttar Pradesh. This was during the Chola period when Shiva was considered a goddess. Her hair is uniquely shaped. Moreover, the symbolic gestures of their hand positions are pertinent. The sculpture depicts the multidimensional aspect of marriage life. Marriage life can blissful at the will of the parties involved.
The spiritual context of the sculpture is after the death of the first wife of Shiva known as Sati. The death was detrimental to the stability of the god who absconded his duties to the world. The gods decided reincarnate sati as Parvati.
Symbolism is intensively used in the artwork. The presence of a cobra behind the Shiva is symbol of sexual magnetism between the two. The intensity of their sexuality depends on how high the cobra rises. Another form of symbolism used observable from the sculpture is the elephant ornament on the edges. In the Indian culture, the elephant is a representation of ignorance. Still at the edges there are elements of lion ornament which represent superiority. In a marital bliss the outside world views the parties involved as being filled with ignorance. The lion ornament symbolizes the superior protection that the god and goddess have in their midst.
The dressing styles of the two gods represent the styles popular with the powerful in the tenth century. The striped garments are symbols common in Indian medieval sculptures. To symbolize harmony in the society the gods contain each other power by tightly holding onto each other. Moreover, the potential of their marriage is depicted using a stiff band. The multi-layered headgear on Parvati is another outward display of internal power.
The jewels observable from the sculpture represent the cultural significance of marriage in the society. The matching of the jewels worn by the two gods is a symbol of strong union between the two. The harmony that the union of the two gods brings to the society is instrumental to blossoming season. After the marriage of the two gods their conjugal happiness is believed to be a blessing to the world. Shiva represents benevolence after their marriage.
