Nakhtamun's Funeral Procession, Tomb of Nakhtamun 1279 BC

Nina de Garis Davies created this facsimile of Nakhtamun's Funeral Procession in the Tomb of Nakhtamun using watercolor on paper. Here, we see a horizontal composition dominated by a procession of figures moving from left to right, rendered in a stylized, linear fashion. Davies meticulously captures the original's flatness, typical of ancient Egyptian art, where depth is suppressed to emphasize symbolic representation. The color palette is restrained, primarily using earth tones like red-brown and ochre, contrasted with white and touches of blue. This limited palette, combined with the repetitive forms of the figures, creates a rhythmic pattern that guides the viewer's eye across the scene. Davies employs a structuralist approach, focusing on the relationships between signs and symbols. The figures, hieroglyphs, and objects are not merely representations but elements within a visual language, each carrying specific cultural and religious meanings. This work challenges our contemporary notions of perspective and realism. It invites us to reconsider the very definition of representation, highlighting how different cultures construct and convey meaning through visual forms.