Evolution of the Greek Figure

The evolution of Greek sculpture has been relatively long and quite dramatic. Taking its roots in ancient Egyptian stylization, and evolving into naturalization and clarity of human form, Greek sculpture has made an enormous impact of the art of modern day. The early kouros figures were very similar to the ancient Egyptian male figures. For example the New York Kouros has many of the same characteristics of the Egyptian Menkure. Both are in a stiff …

…creating a high contrast between light and dark, and Contrapposto was exaggerated, twisting the body into unnatural posses, and creating intense diagonal lines. From the Archaic period to the Hellenistic period the kouros sculpture changed from a stiff, rigid, very stylized figure, to a very naturalistic and moving figure. The techniques and ideas that came from the Greeks, left a huge impact on all future artists, and created some of the artistic geniuses of today.