Mesopotamia art was influenced by their main activities such as farming and rearing of animals. Art designs transformed over time as people changed from one lifestyle to another and as innovation increased.
This stone caving show what can be referred as the initial steps towards the development of writing in the early years in Mesopotamia. It shows structured information which forms the basis of future writing. The stone sculpture is grey in color with smooth edges. The surface of the sculpture is smooth and shaped uniformly. The initial letters have been engraved on the rock indicating that language was developing at the time the sculpture was made. Common to this period, the piece of art has been divided into segments which tell of different stories as engraved on the stone.
Dates: 3100 BCE
Civilization: Mesopotamia
Medium: Stone caving
Style: Pictograph
Dates: 3000 BCE
Civilization: Mesopotamia
Medium: stone caving
Style: pictograph
This Guennol Lioness Sumerian sculpture was superior than that of pottery or clay produced at the time. It is a ceramic art which has been sculpted to make the Guennol Lioness with smooth surface and edges. The head is of a Lioness with a well built mass of muscles. This was used for spiritual guidance for people.
Egyptian Art
Dates: 2150
Civilization: Egypt
Medium: stone
Style: hieroglyph
Hieroglyph consists of a variety of symbols and pictures which may have an independent meaning or may be combines with other symbols to bring out the meaning. Some of the pictures may be used as the Roman alphabet. These hieroglyphs form part of important history for the Egyptians. This is a tomb-door sculpture has raised images curved at the center in grid-like lines shapes. The carved shapes contain carved images which depict some letters and animals. The tomb door has been carved skillfully to show the Egyptian civilization because they revolved the history. The Egyptians painted their arts in vivid hues which where frontal. The images are distinct from that of Mesopotamia in that they form part of the earliest attempts for writing.
Dates: 3200 BCE
Civilization: Egypt
Medium: Clay
Style: hieroglyph
This cartouche contains a horizontal line on it which shows that the name on the clay sculpture is a loyal. This cartouche has replaced the serekh of Third Dynasty of pharaoh. The vertical and horizontal lines may sometimes be vertical entirely or horizontal depending on the kind of the name to be written on it. Sometimes the cartouche representing the name of the kings was placed at the tombs of the Egyptian kings. The oval shape which surrounded their names was said to protect them from any evil spirits. This sculpture is made of clay.
What I have learned
From these Mesopotamia and Egyptian arts I have learned that art began long time ago in these countries even before writing was invented. It is important to note that writing resulted from people who were doing arts through the use of color and other materials. As such, there was need to develop language in order to express arts further. It is also crucial to note that Mesopotamia and Egypt were the first people to attempt art and writing letters despite the fact that they began at different times due to necessity. Looking at the two countries, it is crucial to note that their art different slightly in approach.
