Standing Ram c. 3000

This small sculpture of a Standing Ram resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, crafted by an anonymous artist. Its compact size draws you in, inviting closer inspection of the off-white stone marked with earthy browns. The ram's form is distilled to its essence, a play of curves and planes. Notice how the artist reduced the animal to a series of basic geometric shapes, subtly referencing the animal form. The body is suggested by a central mass, punctuated with the two circles. This geometric treatment invites us to think about the symbolic value of the ram. The smooth, tactile quality of the stone contrasts with the incised details. This is an interesting interplay between material and form. How does this contrast challenge our understanding of the ram as a symbol? The sculpture doesn't offer a singular, definitive answer, but rather opens up a space for reflection on the nature of representation.