Greeks in Perfect Proportions

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Greeks in Perfect Proportions

In the ancient times, Greeks used the human body to convey perfection as a visible means. The different time periods of the Greek art however saw to the modification of the human for representation. The earliest Greek statures were an emulation of the stance and rigidity portrayed in Egyptian statues (Archaeology). The new cultural influences of the Greek can therefore be attributed to the drastic changes observed in their artwork.

Early Greek statues portrayed small waists, conspicuous abs and a V-shaped hip line. There is some observable increase in the flesh content over the V-shaped hip lines with time. Waists are also seen to broaden and the body to take its natural form while still maintaining the Egyptian stance that existed before. Pythagoras who was a mathematician suggested that it was possible to come up with a perfectly idealized person by creating perfect symmetry proportions using a certain mathematical ratio (khanacademy, Early Classical: Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)). Symmetry in this case refers to a harmonious and beautiful proportional balance of the statue. Pythagoras’ suggestion of the mathematical ratio was put into practice by Polykleitos in his sculpture the Spear Bearer. Polykleitos made two sculptures and used the mathematical ratio in one sculpture while in the other sculpture he used people’s suggestions. The Spear Bearer was marveled at by people and it has come all the way from the Riace warrior. This is because the sculptor of the statue made it more of a natural contrapposto. Contrapposto on this context refers to a human figure statue which rests most of its weight on one foot. This allows the shoulders and arms to twist from the hips and legs giving the figure a more dynamic and relaxed appearance (khanacademy, Early Classical: Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)). The V-shape of the sculpture’s abdomen was less exaggerated while the hips and the abdominal area was more rounded....