Focus on Faces

The February 2012 Issue of the Smithsonian Magazine has a story about Ancient Modernism. The story delves into the role of the portrait in ancient cultures.

The story focuses on portraits on wood panels that were associated with mummified bodies. These items, found in the later 1880s near Alexandria give historians a glimpse into an ancient culture. Not only do the portraits reveal styles of the times, but their association with the preserved bodies hint at the culture's respect for the dead and perhaps belief in an afterlife.

This story got me to thinking about the importance of PORTRAITS in ART HISTORY. Portraits have been produced by artists in many cultures, for many centuries. As one studies art history, one encounters artists' self-portraits, portraits made on commission, partner portraits, group portraits and portraits of pets. They style and function are a product of the values of the communities in which they were made.

The image shown here is from the Smithsonian Article's online story. This Egyptian portrait is an eye-opener. Most images from ancient Egypt are related to the Pharaohs' and their preparations for the afterlife. This image reinforces the Egyptian's importance in the afterlife as it is demonstrated through a mere citizen.