An Example of Figural Representation

 An Example of Figural Representation

By: Cami Budzik

    Figural representations are very common works of art in ancient times. These figures were used for a variety of things such as votive offers, ritual objects, or cooking vessels. Paleolithic art in Europe is one of the first examples of figural representation. The Paleolithic people were nomads and the glaciers were still around during this time period. Much of what we know about the Paleolithic people and their lifestyle is from art and paintings. 

    One example of figural representation in Paleolithic art is the Lion-Human figure (pictured below). This object was believed to be made in Germany around 40,000-35,000 BCE. It is made of mammoth ivory and the meaning behind this object is really unknown. Some believe it would be a person wearing the skin of a lion that they killed, some believe it could have been a God they worshipped, and still other believe it could have been from a made up story. 

    Another example of figural representation comes from Greek art. Many things that we see today come from Greek culture. One of those things is how we understand and think about art. The Geometric period of Greek art took place from 900 BCE to 600 BCE. During this period, many vessels and pottery objects were produced. One example of a figural representation in the Geometric period is the Man and the Centaur (pictured below). The figures are very thin and there is much emphasis on the lower body. The figure on the right is a man in the front half and a horse in the back half. The man on the left is believed to be a God due to the fact that he is significantly larger than the centaur. It is believed that this figure is from Olympia around 750 BCE. It was found in a sanctuary and thought to be a votive offering made of bronze. 

    The picture that I took is a figural representation of cow or a calf. I found this figure in the hallway of Seigfred Hall, which houses the School of Art and Design. Unlike the other two examples shown, this figural representation is based off of a realistic or general animal, the cow. This figure, as you can see at the top of the page, is hollow in the middle and could be used for storage or as a cooking vessel like those of ancient times.