From its rediscovery in the early 1800s, Ancient Egypt has beguiled the modern world with its visually distinct and instantly recognizable cultural legacy. Georgian and Victorian artists wasted no time to appropriate its motifs, sometimes creating anachronistic and fanciful fusions of past and present that encapsulates the spirit of Egyptomania, if not always of Egypt itself. There is, for example, a lovely early 19th century French tea service, using hieroglyphs as artistic styling, but without any knowledge of the linguistics behind the symbols. A late Victorian illustration shows an impression of statues of Sekhmet at the Temple of Mut at Karnak. A portrait of Isis by Lily Moses. One artistic impression blends Egyptian pharaoh figures with chubby cherubs. Another painting pays tribute to Khonsu, a lesser-known deity also known as "The Traveler". There are early twentieth century cigarette ads that borrow Egyptian inspiration to emulate exotic sophistication. Gilt furniture that wouldn't look out of place in a temple. Many of the images are time capsules of fragmented past comprehension. Yes, they are flawed. But they are beautiful too.
Members: 9.5k, at the time of writing.
Trigger Warnings: Cultural Appropriation
Go here to visit or join.
Related Posts:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment