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The Lasting Influence of Ancient Egyptian Art in Modern Sculpture
- TERAVARNA
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
Are you prepared to learn how ancient Egyptian art continues to rock the world in contemporary sculpture? Discover how the magic and mystery of ancient Egypt are still killing the modern sculpture and art scene today.
Why does ancient Egyptian art have such a hold on us? No, it’s not just the ‘mummified’ cool factor! It’s a whole legacy of artistic allure, and those pyramids are just the beginning! In this blog, let me take you back in time to when ancient Egypt was an inspiring art icon, with its memorable shapes and symbols. From slick lines to bold curves, Egypt’s ancient magic is still glittering in the art world.
Ancient Egyptian art is something like the OG influencer of creativity! Its vibes continue to send waves of influence all through contemporary art, from the use of Hieroglyphs in sculpture, art and architecture.
But don’t be deceived, it’s not all sunbeams and pyramids. With its mystical roots and fixation on the afterlife, Egyptian art has it all, but needs you to unwind to vibe with its mysticality fully. With everything from contemporary sculptures to brazen geometric patterns, Egypt has never been so present in the design sphere.
So relax, take a seat, and get ready your time machine as we go on a fabulous tour of the modern sculptural legacy of Egyptian art!
The Foundations of Ancient Egyptian Art: Order, Balance, and a Touch of Magic
Before getting in, let’s take some time to appreciate the basics of Egyptian art. It wasn’t just about making pretty pictures; it was about order and balance. Artists in ancient Egypt operated under rigid and just rules, aligning themselves with a sort of visual harmony that ensured all things would have their proper place in the cosmos. If they drew a person, it didn’t just look “real,” it looked symbolic. Head in profile, torso frontal, legs in profile.
“Everything had to be represented from its most characteristic angle,” - E.H. Gombrich.
It was not about realism; it was about immortality, spirituality, and capturing life and death. And as strict as it might seem, there was a certain liberation in those rules. It made Pyramids in art eternal, locked in place over the centuries. It’s why those statues of pharaohs and gods look so monumental even now: they were meant to last.
Egyptomania: When Egypt Got a Makeover!
Enter the 19th century art history: Egyptomania was in the house. And the entire world discovered Egypt’s secrets, and everyone wanted a piece of the action. Western artists in that time couldn’t get enough of ancient Egyptian aesthetics, especially after Napoleon’s expedition there, and the subsequent discovery of the Rosetta Stone. Hieroglyphs, obelisks, and everything in between were fair game. Egypt seemed the zenith of cultural treasure, and artists began to reach into it like children in a candy shop.
But let’s face it, Egypt wasn’t all a mystery. And the symmetrical, foreboding designs that would be etched in chrome and polyester drew in artists like moths to a room-sized flame.
They began to include Egyptian symbols and motifs in their work, not just in fine art. Think about Art Deco. It looked like Egypt and modernism had a baby, and the baby was cooler than both of them. The clean lines, symmetry, and stylized images of nature made it so. The alchemy of old mysticism and modern design became the star of an entire age.
Art Deco Revolution: Egyptian Geometry Meets Modern Glam
Art Deco ruled the art during the Roaring Twenties and the Depression Era of the 1930s. It was a look that combined the sleek, modern design and an unlikely inspiration: ancient Egypt.
Picture statues in the form of pyramids, angular lines, and bold geometric art that all jived with the streamlined style of the day. It was the right mix of classic Egyptian style and the new, glamorous look of the time.
Imagine that Egypt from long ago is getting a stylish makeover for the present day. An Art Deco artist named Jean Després was a great example of this mix. His statues were full of shapes that were influenced by Egyptian art.
Those soaring spires?
Pure Egyptian vibes, designed with the same monumental power you’d find in ancient obelisks. Henri Matisse once said, “Art is the most beautiful of all lies,” and in this case, the “lie” is the idea that ancient symbols can’t mix with modern art. Egypt was the perfect fit for Art Deco - timeless, yet undeniably polished.
Modern Artists and the Egyptian Vibe
Today, artists continue, and always have, to draw from Egypt’s rich depository of symbols. Egyptian art was of life, of eternity, of death, and all the mysteries of the globe. They are not merely stories of once upon a time; they are stories of all time.
Take Alexander Calder’s mobiles, for instance. Their rounded, balanced shapes testify to the geometric elegance of Egyptian sculpture. Henry Moore’s abstract human forms generate the aura of hushed, monumental Egyptian statues. But today’s contemporary artists inspired by Egypt aren’t just copycatting Egypt’s style; they are also appropriating its meaning.
For example, the time, David Hockney, recounting his visit to Egypt, said,
“Isn’t that one of the most thrilling countries I’ve ever been to, which is, these monuments are the oldest man-made things or they’re the oldest known buildings anywhere.”
Understanding Symbols: The Scarab, the Ankh, and the Eye of Horus
The ankh, Egypt’s symbol of life, is another image that insists on appearing in modern art. It was for the Egyptians, the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Simply as a powerful image, the Eye of Horus serves as an enduring representation of these concepts.
These are like secret codes and symbolism in art that still resonate with artists today, providing zipwires of Egypt’s phantom power to which they can hook themselves.
Why Does It Matters?
Egyptian art is not just old stuff; it lives in modern sculpture as well. Artists are still inspired by Egyptian spirituality in art, an ancient sense of balance and harmony. Using its symbols and dimensions to probe eternal themes, they’re doing pretty much what the Egyptians were doing two or three millennia ago.
As Picasso said, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
Egyptian art is that perfect getaway, throwing us right into something very ancient and eternal. And next time you see a modern sculpture that seems to shout out Egypt, well, that's probably an accurate judgement. It’s a place where the past converges with the present, the ancient melds with the now. The Egyptian influence in art remains as striking, potent and calm as ever.
