Greek Helenistic Sculpture
...ce seen in Hellenistic pieces is that many different aspects of the human condition were portrayed. Classical Greek Sculpture and painting often times only portrayed youthful, beautiful individuals in heroic situations. However, a new sense of humility drove Hellenistic artisans to explore new dimensions of the human experience. Naturalism replaced the less realistic images of the classical age. Events and scenarios depicting tension and great emotion were accurately portrayed. Works were designed to make the observer feel the anguish and torment o the subjects. During the Classical period, emotions were evident; however they were displayed much more subtly. Hellenistic artwork put the struggle at the forefront and infused each piece with an energy and power not presently observed in Greek art. The Hellenistic artisan attempted to not only portray his subject’s outward appearance, but also to reveal the inward struggle. The mind body connection was explored in detail for the first time. Sculpture from this period emphasized not only the human subject, but also the surrounding landscape. One piece that beautifully illustrates this fact is the Nike of Samothrace which is posed at the edge of a cliff and surrounded by a reflective pool and rocks. One remarkable aspect of this sculpture is the way the goddess’s clothing appears to blow in this wind as she stands perch atop the cliff. This subtle feature makes the observer more aware of what her surroundings must have been like. You are immediately aware of the presence of wind. This adds an element of drama to this piece and makes it more intriguing. The wind also allows you to see more of the form of the goddess’s body, giving her a more realistic, human appearance. In this piece physical and imaginary components are united to create the overall feel. They work in harmony to tell observers more than they would have known had the artist not embraced the physical surroundings to create this scene. The sculpture of Venus, Eros, and Pan is yet another example of the captivating emotion and life that was created in Hellenistic art. The scene portrays Pan trying to seduce the love goddess as her son Eros attempts to rescue his mother from the villainous creature. The voluptuous Venus smirks at her would-be attacker. She seems pure and innocent in comparison to the grotesque, hoofed Pan. The curves in her figure are life-like as is her expression and the overall emotion of the piece. You can feel the panic of the tiny Eros as he attempts to come to his mother’s rescue. Laocoon, a sculpture by Hagesandros, Polydoros, & Athanadoros is another remarkable example of the Hellenistic style. In this work, the story of the horrible deaths of the Trojan priest of Poseidon and his two young sons. As the legend goes, Laocoon suffers his horrible fate as punishment for offending the gods by attacking a wooden horse that is found outside the gates of the city of Troy. The horrible anguish on Laocoon’s face makes the observer fear for what is about to happen to him as he is enveloped by a sea monster. His bulging muscles and dramatic pose ma...