Amarna art, created during Akhenaten’s rule, was much different than that of the usual Egyptian style art. However, this is not too surprising since the religion of the Amarna period was also much different. Since religion often influences art, then art would consequently change during this time.
Amarna art, created during Akhenaten's rule, was much different than that of the usual Egyptian style art. However, this is not too surprising since the religion of the Amarna period was also much different. Since religion often influences art, then art would consequently change during this time. The style was drastically different from that of previous periods. Amarna art showed more of the family and everyday life of the pharaoh- something that had not been done before. The Aten, the god of Akhenaten's rule, was also depicted differently than other Egyptian artwork that included gods. People today can look at the work and label it as art or even religious art, but when this art was produced there was not such a term. However, looking at Amarna art, one can see that the art was shaped by the religion and religion was shaped by the art. The style of the art of the Amarna period was different by how the people were shown in the work. People's faces were distorted in the art in many ways. They had “unusually long faces, extended foreheads, large full lips, protruding lower chins, elongated eyes, and stretched thin large ears” (Hommel). As you can see in the picture to the right, Akhenaten is distorted in the ways mentioned previously. Akhenaten usually had a more feminine look to him too as can be seen in the picture to the right. Akhenaten is depicted with an hour glass figure, which is commonly attributed to female figures. He also has a protruding stomach, which is sometimes associated with female figures in childbirth. However, interpretation of the pharaoh's appearance is tough. Did Akhenaten really look this way or was it an exaggeration of features by the artist? One thing does remain certain: such art could not have been produced without Akhenaten's approval. If he really did have some sort of physical deformity then perhaps this caused the unusual art and religion of the Amarna period. Akhenaten did call himself “Wa-en-Re, or "The Unique One of Re," thus emphasizing the fact that he was not like anyone else” (Lorenz). Lorenz hypothesizes that perhaps his strange physical appearance caused him to believe it was some connection to the divine and thus “linked him to the Aten” (Lorenz). It was also hypothesized that perhaps the imperfection in the physical appearance of the pharaoh was a sign of submission to the Aten. The content of the art in the Amarna period was also different from that of previous periods. It showed more of the family life and everyday life of the Pharaoh. The picture on the following page clearly depicts a family scene between Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and three of their children. This has the distinctly Amarna style to it with a rarely seen family setting where the pharaoh is kissing his child in a familial manner. Such family scenes were not normal in Egyptian art work. There is a also a “religious” aspect to this scene with the Aten above them all holding ankhs to their noses. This depiction of the Aten, the god of the period, is not uncommon. What is uncommon with the Amarna art is an anthropomorphic depiction of the Aten. Other Egyptian art typically has an anthropomorphic depiction of a god with either a human head or the head of an animal that represents that god. A sun disc with hands has rays reaching out to Akhenaten or his wife is a much different depiction of a god than previous art. Also this is the only depiction of a god during this period. Other gods are pushed to the side during Akhenaten's reign because he tried to develop a monotheistic religion with the Aten as the center.
As far as how the religion influenced the art or the other way around, it is clear there was a connection. Such art would not have been produced if not for the religion of the Amarna period. Perhaps the style of how people were depicted could have changed, but such a drastic change in how gods were depicted would not have happened without Akhenaten's abrupt change in religion. Such a religion had to be popular for at least a little while for such art to be made, and the art probably helped the religion continue through Akhenaten's reign. However, once Akhenaten died, the cult of Aten died with him and people went back to the previous religion of many gods. Now as to whether or not one can call Amarna art “religious art” or even “art” is another matter. Religious art assumes that they were creating the work for a the purpose of religion. In all probability, these sculptures were created to depict how life was during Akhenaten's reign, since there was no real idea about what religion was. Religion was life. Now, one can make a case that it is art. While intially when people created what we now consider art, it was for some use (i.e. pottery, architecture, etc.), but as civilization grew some of what was only for aforementioned use started to develop into ornate works of art. So while this the work of the Amaran period was depicting life then, it was also a form of art.
Amarna art was a distinct change from the art of previous periods. This was caused by the radical change from a polytheistic religion to a monotheistic religion. Emphasis was placed on the family and the worship of the Aten. The style of how the pharaoh and other prominent individuals were presented in the art was also a drastic change from previous periods. Figures were distorted in ways that were never done before in Egyptian art. It is clear that religion had a huge influence on this art due the change in style.
Works Cited
Hommel, W. “Amarna Art: Akhenaten, Portraiture and Aten.” 30 Apr. 2007. 05 Apr. 2008 < HYPERLINK "http://archaeological-art-writing.suite101.com/article.cfm/amarna_art" http://archaeological-art-writing.suite101.com/article.cfm/amarna_art>. Lorenz, Megaera. “The Art of the Amarna Period.” 05 Apr. 2008 . Stange, Kate. “Amarna Art.” 01 Mar. 2000. 05 Apr. 2008 .
