Artistic features and products have contributed to the beauty noted in the society as well as displaying and conveying mixed messages reflected in the society not only in the past but also the present times. Art, therefore, has contributed positively in society by displaying messages and themes that touch on the cultural, historical, political, religious and philosophical information among others. Artistic products, therefore, have to be made using styles and techniques that result into an exceptional work that relays the message and theme that the artists had with ease to the audience and viewers of the piece. Different artist’s products such as sculptures, paintings, drawings, and sketches among others require and uses varied styles and techniques that result into good work with potential to realize and fulfill its objectives and goals. Artists, therefore, have to be acquainted with the right technique and skill to produce great work that stands the taste of time among generations. It gets noted though many great pieces of art done by artists from the ancient times that have realized high recognition and professionalism displayed through their work and pieces. However, this paper analyzes the piece titled Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri from the Milwaukee Art Museum by pointing out the styles used that has made the piece great while comparing it to another great work called Tutankhamen that displays great artistic systoles, as well.
The piece Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri (500–250 BC) is an Egyptian sculpture of the late dynastic or early Greco- Roman period that is made from plastered, Poly chromed, and gilded wood that measures 213.36 × 78.11 × 34.93 cm. The piece is a great artistic product due to the numerous styles displayed by the article that makes the audience analyzes the piece with ease relating and making meaning from the piece (Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri, 1). It is a sculpture representing the human body that is displayed with human features such as ate face and body. It is a coffin that is shaped in the form and style of a human body that represent different themes and meanings of the piece. The piece is well presented that it is easy to distinguish the different parts that compose the piece and the style used in the mixed body parts also makes it easier for the audience to give it in-depth analysis. The head of the piece represents and is similar to that of a person that is covered with a scarf that covers the entire head and runs down to the shoulder up to the chest. The face presented with natural features and body part such as ears, eyes, mouth, nose and dimples that present humanistic features. The shoulder and upper body is runs down through lower body joining with the base. The upper body decorated around the chests with beautiful patterns and rings that cut across the chests forming the shapes of curves that are decorated with patterns adding styles and beauty to the piece. The entire body decorated with paintings and drawings that displays varied themes relating to the major theme of a funeral. At the beginning of the lower body, there are paintings and drawings in the piece such as one noted of a beautiful woman with wings flying while at the same time carrying a pot on the top of the head. Below the image, there are groups of people probably performing magic and paying last respect to the dead person that is being pulled by a trolley that is designed and resembles the face of an animal.
It creates an image of magic displayed through the dressing and actions of the people in the scenario presented by the drawing. Below the scene, there are paintings and drawings of patterns that run down through the legs and base of the picture displaying t beautiful models that had meanings the people of the times that the piece was made and captured during those in early times. The entire body presented by beautiful drawings and patterns that add beauty to the piece while at the same displaying and conveying varied meanings. At the side of the piece, there is drawing of woman standings in varied postures and positions. The patterns and decorations run down till the base of the piece. The color used for the piece is golden brown in most parts of the body with the head covered with a scarf that is black in color. The decorations and patterns displayed in the body uses a different color making them visible and noted by the audience and makes and produces the beautiful pattern noted by the piece. The piece presents a two dimensional piece that enable viewers see the front and side parts of the article. The body of the piece gives it a good view that allows the viewers relate it with ease, as well as the finishing of the piece, is smooth reflecting on the light making visibility easier even to the tiny patterns displayed by the piece.
The theme offered by the piece display the cultural and traditional events that occur in conducting funeral services and practices among the ancient people of the Egypt. It displays the religious practices that are observed in and rituals conducted especially through the drawings noted in the piece that display the dead and a group of people conducting different rituals and traditions regarding the dead. The body of the piece is great presenting a figure similar to that of human beings and the patterns drawn in the body of the piece makes it easier to relate and read varied themes and culture of the people of that time. It is imperative to note that artistic pictures usually display different themes that transpire within the society (Schulze, 22). In this case cultural and religious themes and information is well presented from the piece besides fulfilling the aesthetic part of beauty. The color used allows the different patterns drawn to be displayed and viewed with a smooth finishing and texture making it displays the styles and techniques used that result into a quality artistic product.
In comparison to Tutankhamen, both display and convey the same theme and meaning in rituals and religious practices relating to funeral of the pharaonic culture (Zaki, 12). Both pieces are shaped and designed in a similar manner with the measurements almost similar. The patterns displayed at the head and upper body differs from both pieces in Tutankhamen and Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri. The head cover of the Tutankhamen covered with a mask that is not the case in the other piece (The Innermost Coffin of Tutankhamun, 1). The material used in Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri made of wood while for Tutankhamen it used glass and gold as the main materials for the piece. Another similarity between the two pieces is that they display the culture and same theme of similar people and community. The style used for the two pieces is similar and the techniques used as well as they present artistic products of the same period and style used that were dominated during the time.
In conclusion, the two pieces of art described and discussed above presents good techniques and style of art that has resulted into great artistic work. They both display and relay varied themes that transpired across the society by the time they got made. Artistic products should be able to display and relay information that the viewers and the audience of the work can relate to in the society both in the present and past times. The piece of Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri and that of Tutankhamen present great artistic work and styles used that other artists should copy and incorporate in their work and learn from.
Works cited
“Mummy Coffin of Pedusiri”. MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM/ Collection. April, 12..Available at: http://collection.mam.org/details.php?id=25606. 2014. Internet Resource.
Zaki, Mey. Legacy of Tutankhamun: Art and History. Giza, Egypt: Farid Atiya Press, 2008. Print.
Schulze, Franz. Building a Masterpiece: Milwaukee Art Museum. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 2001. Print.
“The Innermost Coffin of Tutankhamun”. Eterenal Egypt. April 12. Available at: http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.element&story_id=&module_id=&language_id=1&element_id=60332&ee_messages=0001.flashrequired.text. 2014. Internet Resource.
