Face of Seniseneb, Tomb of Puyemre 1473 BC

Norman de Garis Davies rendered "Face of Seniseneb, Tomb of Puyemre" with watercolor, capturing an ancient visage with delicate precision. The eye, rendered with a stark outline and a gaze that seems to pierce through time, dominates the composition. The face's ochre tones, punctuated by subtle shading, suggest both the subject's physical presence and the passage of millennia. Davies' approach reveals the underlying structure of representation itself. By focusing on fragments, he destabilizes the notion of a complete, knowable past. The unfinished quality invites us to consider the nature of historical record as inherently incomplete and subjective. The watercolor medium, typically associated with impermanence, creates a tension with the monumental nature of Egyptian art. This tension underscores the ephemeral nature of human existence and our attempts to preserve memory. Davies’ work, therefore, becomes a meditation on time, representation, and the enduring power of the human image.