Comparing Art: Kouros and Arsinoe

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Comparison
Differences
Impressions
Conclusion

Introduction

It is clear by studying contemporary art that artists get their inspiration for their works, whatever their purpose, from the things they have experience with. Comparing works of art from differing time periods or cultures helps enrich understanding of the society in which the artwork was created as well as traces technical developments over time. In addition, comparisons between two similar works of art such as the Statue of a Kouros (590-580 BC) and Statuette of Arsinoe II as a Goddess (270 BC) can also help reveal various aspects of the art itself. This can include elements such as the techniques, visual elements or contexts which influenced the artist’s vision as well as contemporary and potential future interpretations. The more similar the two works are in terms of subject matter, base material or other major features, the more these differences in ideas are brought forward for study and appreciation. To provide a classic example of how these things come to bear upon the interpretation of art, an example comparison will be made between these two sculptures currently on display at the Met.

Comparison

Both the Kouros and the Arsinoe present similar images of a representative individual of society. In the Greek culture, the kouros or male youth, was the idealized member of society. Egyptian society valued their queens following the age of Cleopatra. They are both chiseled from a solid block of hard material, Naxian marble for the kouros and limestone for the Arsinoe, and thus required many of the same techniques to create the final image. Both statues are given a great deal of detail in the carving. The kouros has the suggestion of muscle in its depiction, particularly in the knees and elbows while the Arsinoe offers a great deal of detail in its clothing, such as in the scarf draped over the right shoulder and the embroidery running down the back headdress. The two figures share a similar pose, each facing fully front with their left foot placed flat on the ground slightly ahead of their left foot which is also positioned flat on the ground. Their arms are held almost rigidly straight down to their sides and their hands are clenched.

Differences

In spite of all these similarities, though, the two statues are very different from each other. For example, the kouros is approximately life-size or a little larger at 6 feet, 3 inches tall as compared to the statuette which is only about 15 inches high, a little over one foot tall. The kouros is carved of marble while the Arsinoe is made of limestone, both having a very white or pale appearance, but marble seems to be a much more valuable substance and the amount of material involved makes it seem as if the kouros is the more valued figure to the society. The kouros is presented as a naked man but the Arsinoe is richly dressed in flowing drapery that enables the artist to forego carving finer details on the back side of the image other than the detail on the back of the headdress. The kouros statue has very detailed, braided hair that falls in a block to his shoulders and is tied back with a carved cloth headband. The Arsinoe shows very little of her hair, with most of it contained within the elaborate corded headdress. Her bangs are depicted in a similar braided style as the kouros and the cords of the headdress are also suggestive of the earlier work, but they fall in a more natural pattern with some pulling in front of her shoulders and others flowing toward the back. The back of the headdress falls flat and straight from the top of Arsinoe’s head to the ground, making the statuette adopt a basic elongated triangle shape. This shape reminds me of a bookend as compared to the full three-dimensional approach taken in the kouros, making me consider more about the differences in use for which these two statues were intended.

Impressions

The differences in depiction between these two works help to reveal some of the differences of the cultures that made them. While both figures appear stiff, unyielding and forced, the lack of detail in the Arsinoe suggest a more relaxed culture and time than seen in the bare, tense form of the kouros. The Egyptian focus on the queen as goddess suggests that this culture both valued their women as contributing members of society and equated rulership with divinity. This is not the case in the Greek culture that chooses instead to idolize the nude figure of the young male as the best form of the human condition. This difference between clothed and unclothed figures also suggests a difference in values as it seems the Greeks valued more of the external elements of a person and the Egyptians recognized inner, more esoteric values. It is also clear that many of the same techniques were used to create the two statues, but the differences here suggests the Greeks put more thought into the actual rendition. This is because they shifted the weight of the statue to a more balanced position between the feet and were thus able to make the figure free-standing. The Egyptian statue, although created in a later period, still balances on the back foot and makes the block of stone at the back necessary to keep the figure standing. Again, though, this reinforces the idea that the Greeks paid more attention to the external elements while the Egyptians were concerned with other ideas.

Conclusion

Although the Greek and Egyptian cultures shared trade and time periods and thus were able to influence each other in artistic expression and technique, there are clear differences in their art that reveal important concepts about their beliefs and cultures. This comparison shows that each culture developed techniques most important to expressing those elements that were important to them. The Greeks placed a great deal of emphasis on physical perfection and the muscular power of youth as compared to the Egyptians who venerated their rulers and focused more upon the spiritual aspects of the individual. However, it’s also possible that some of these differences were the result of differences in political situation as the Greeks seemed to be more tense and the Egyptians were more relaxed.

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Comparing Art: Kouros and Arsinoe

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