cant man is. Before humans were always the center of attention but now here they are almost trivial. Artists like Thomas Cole show us what is pure and simple. The paintings use a lot of color to create very natural, unaffected scenes. It seems that we come upon these landscapes almost by accident. They depict ideal settings that are unscathed by the injustices of the world. In my opinion, the beauty of these works is unsurpassed by any other art. Through the ages each culture had its own interpretation of what the human body means. I have briefly explained a few of the broadest views of the human body. In order to explain one in great detail would take volumes. I thoroughly enjoyed Mona's tour of the museum and I hope to see her there again. Bibliography Before the portrayal of the human body can be critiqued, you must understand the artist's culture. As man evolved over centuries, his views of the body also transformed. Our tour definitely showed the drastic changes in different cultures' art. Each culture and era presents very distinct characteristics. Through time and experimentation, we have expressed our views of the human body clearly with our art. Egyptians were the first people to make a large impact on the world of art. Egyptians needed art for their religious beliefs more than decoration or self-gratification. The most important aspect of Egyptian life is the ka, the part of the human spirit that lives on after death. The ka needed a physical place to occupy or it would disappear. Most of the important men of Egypt paid to have their body carved out of stone. That was were the spirit would live after the man dies. They used stone because it was the strongest material they could find. Longevity was very important. The bodies are always idealized and clothed. Figures are very rigid, close-fisted, and are built on a vertical axis to show that the person is grand or intimidating. Most of the figures were seen in the same: profile ...
