Female Figure c. 2500

0:00

sculpture, marble

portrait

stone

sculpture

figuration

geometric

ancient-mediterranean

sculpture

abstraction

marble

Dimensions 16 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 1 9/16 in. (41.28 x 10.8 x 3.97 cm)

This marble female figure was crafted in the Cyclades, a group of islands in the Aegean Sea, sometime during the early Bronze Age. These sculptures, with their highly stylized and flattened forms, invite us to consider the beliefs and social structures of the Cycladic people. The figure's gender is subtly indicated, suggesting a focus beyond mere physical representation. As such, it serves as a potent symbol, possibly linked to fertility, or maybe a spiritual connection. Crafted by an anonymous artist, the sculpture speaks to a shared cultural understanding. The artist's choice to use marble, a precious material, highlights the figure's significance. The figure embodies the hopes, fears, and worldview of its creators. It asks us to reflect on the universal themes of identity, spirituality, and our place in the world.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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This female figure comes from the Cyclades, a chain of islands off the coast of mainland Greece. Scholars classify it among the late Spedos variety, so named after the Bronze Age cemetery where a number of such sculptures were discovered. Examples have been found only on the Cycladic islands of Naxos and Keros. Identifying features include a deep groove separating the legs, individually carved feet, and minimal incised details. Although their exact function is unknown, these abstract stone forms may have been fertility figures or served other religious purposes in life, or perhaps were objects made exclusively for the grave.