Your Cart is Empty
The art of sculpture has existed since prehistoric times when cave dwellers would carve small animal and human figures out of rocks. And like most other works of art, a sculpture represents facets of human society that are inexpressible through mere words. However, there must be a reason why sculpting became the prevalent art form that it is today.
Sculptures give people a glimpse of the times in which they were created. Sculptures are typically made to prompt a particular idea, pay respect to someone or something, and even establish some form of power and control. Like any art form, they are used to express specific ideas.
In this article, we will discuss why sculpting began and why it has stayed important to us through the years. Check out our collection of the best art gifts.
Sculpture has been used over the last few centuries to portray ideals that humans can aspire to. Traditional sculptures often depicted humans, humanoids, or animals and involved natural elements. Modern sculptures have gone beyond these boundaries, lending new and evolved ideas to the art form.
A common purpose of sculpture in ancient times was to communicate religious beliefs and principles and to establish authority. The purpose of the sculpture eventually shifted to expressing thoughts, ideas, or concepts, like any other art form today.
However, many sculptures in ancient times were also made with artistic goals, and you might find contemporary sculptures that communicate religious beliefs.
Sculpture may not have a sole, unifying purpose for its creation, but there are a few reasons why this form of art has survived through the ages and continues to grow and expand over time. Let's look at some of these reasons.
In the middle ages, most people were unable to read or write and would visit religious institutions to seek instructions on living a better life. As most of these instructions were in written form, the lower classes couldn't learn and understand what churches, temples, mosques, and other religions were trying to communicate.
So, sculptures became a way to instill specific values in people, leading to a more harmonious way of living. They also served as a reminder of whom to worship and highlighted what could befall those who didn't.
For example, the churches had massive sculptures of demons or other ghastly figures to remind people of the evils lying in wait for those who sinned. As mentioned, most people couldn't read and didn't know what was contained in the scriptures. And sculptures were an effective way to remind them of certain essential truths.
Many temples also contain sculptures of various gods and goddesses, so people had a reference point during their worship. These divine beings were believed to be omnipresent, but through sculptures, it became more accessible for people to relate to their presence.
In ancient Egypt, sculptures were used the same way - to portray divine beings who were to be revered and worshiped, and specific values were communicated through these heavenly beings.
Sculpture may have started in prehistoric times and was prevalent for years after. But the Greeks were the first to take the statue to a new level by depicting the human body in various forms.
For example, Michelangelo's David is a representation of the independence and strength possessed by humans and the beauty and vigor of youth. The statue is also a way to depict a higher ideal by showing a human being in the prime of his fitness. Aside from glorifying the human body, this sculpture also represents the fact that our bodies are beautiful and full of life if we only care for them well.
Most Greek sculptures were designed to showcase the strength and splendor of the human body. Often, these works of art were idealistic as most humans don't possess the level of fitness shown in these figurines.
However, sculptures of the human body are meant to inspire us by hinting at what we are capable of physically when we live up to our highest potential.
Additionally, unlike paintings, sculptures are three-dimensional and allow you to view them from all angles. As such, the artist can portray parts of the human body that can't be seen in a painting. This feature of sculpture makes it ideal for glorifying the human body and showcasing it in an ideological form.
Sculptures are often more enduring than most other works of art. While other art forms like paintings must be well-protected or preserved to last, sculptures require less caution. The fact that several sculptures still exist since ancient times proves that sculptures have the power to communicate messages across generations.
It's no wonder rulers and political figures prefer to use sculptures to establish or reinforce their authority over certain people. They consolidate their power and authority by casting themselves or their ideals in stone or marble and showcasing it to people.
For example, the Mesopotamian ruler Gudea had more than twenty sculptures of himself constructed in various temples he rebuilt. He was the ruler of Lagash, an important city-state that he rebuilt and elevated during his rule.
Gudea built the statues to commemorate his rule and to give people an idea of who he was. The sculptures portray a serene and peaceful face, communicating that he was a kind and considerate king. The statue also contains an inscription that, in essence, mentions that the king would live a long life.
Aside from making it clear who's in charge, sculptures also allow a ruler to create a desirable image to portray to the public.
Another example of such portrayal is the insane Roman king Caligula. This ruler was considered cruel and insane by many Romans at the time. However, he ensured that his sculptures portrayed an emotionless or peaceful face to reinforce the idea that he was a good ruler.
And sculpture continues to be used in the modern day to establish authority in various ways. Another great example would be the two statues on either side of the main steps leading up to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Contemplation of Justice and The Authority of Law are two sculptures created by the sculptor James Earle Fraser.
The first depicts a seated female figure with a book of the law in her left hand and a figurine of a blindfolded woman who represents justice in her right hand. The sculptor believed that this statue was the perfect depiction of someone who represented the force of justice.
The Authority of Law is the statue of a physically powerful, attentive, stern-looking male. He holds a book with laws inscribed on the front of a sheathed sword to enforce these laws.
Both statues convey the authority and power of the Supreme Court in matters of the law. And while none of this is explicitly stated in the figures, the artwork and its physical representation make it clear.
Art is primarily used to express, and sculpture is no different. A sculptor uses the raw material to express the depths of their being without having to speak it out in words. And like a writer who communicates ideas in written form, a sculptor translates thoughts and concepts into statues.
Traditional sculptures, like The Thinker, represent philosophy and its lofty ideals. The Thinker may not explicitly state this message, but it's evident in the furrowed brows and deep concentration you see on the statue's face. The pose also indicates deep contemplation - something every human should aspire to.
Another sculpture - Love, by Alexander Milov - depicts two humans constructed out of steel. Both humans are facing away from each other and seem to be angry or non-communicative. However, within each human is another smaller structure of an infant.
Both infants face each other and try to connect by clasping their hands together. The sculpture is a representation of how the inner child still tries to reach out in a loving way even when we aren't prepared to be vulnerable with each other.
In this sense, sculpture can create a powerful rendering of emotions, feelings, and concepts that help us to digest specific ideas more easily.
Let's not forget the prime reason sculptures have survived till today: they are a form of artistic expression, like any other art form. And like any art, sculpture can be used to express subconscious ideas that form a part of our reality but may not be immediately apparent to us.
And while most traditional sculptures were created primarily for institutions, modern works include home projects that use metal, plastic, and other materials.
Additionally, artists create various shapes and forms using concepts from other art. These include geometric or cuboid sculptures that are significantly different from traditional models. In fact, they can be considered art forms in their own right.
With techniques like welding, assembling different parts, and using twisted shapes, sculpture today has taken a life of its own. An artist seeking to express themselves may do so in a handful of limitless ways through sculpture.
While it may not seem important, the fact that sculpture is a form of artistic expression is why the craft has survived so long. If it were solely an industrial task without passion or thought, the final product wouldn't be infused with the spirit of creativity you see in specific sculptures.
Rulers used sculptures to immortalize themselves for generations to come. In the same way, statues commemorating or honoring certain heroes can help keep their ideals alive for a long time.
And these sculptures aren't restricted to war heroes or martyrs. In fact, many athletes are heroes to the world, symbols of what is possible for humans who live to their highest potential. Statues of Michael Jordan and Christiano Ronaldo pay homage to these sports stars who have exceeded normal human expectations by repeating extraordinary feats regularly.
Sculptures help immortalize these people in a display of art.
You may argue that paintings or other art forms can do the same thing. However, the difference with a sculpture is that it's a three-dimensional figure and can be viewed from all angles. This gives the artist room to work with the piece and portray the athlete in motion in a more realistic sense. This sense of realism isn't possible with other forms of art because they don't possess the same characteristics.
Additionally, sculptures occupy the same space as the viewer, lending a sense of realism that isn't present in paintings or other depictions.
As such, sculpting Michael Jordan in the process of performing a slam dunk is the best way to honor a player who has inspired millions. It captures hearts and helps people remember him for how he made the world feel and revolutionized the game of basketball.
Like some other art forms, sculptures are meant to please the eyes. Michelangelo's David may have been created to convey particular messages, but Michaelangelo's motive for creating such a piece was to share beauty.
More modern pieces, like Neil Dawson's Horizon, create an optical illusion that can significantly liven up a space and give people something to look forward to. Another modern piece - Expansion - is a beautiful display of the inner strength of human willpower.
You've probably seen sculptures at fountains or in the center of some famous cities. And you've noticed how these sculptures liven up the space and improve its aesthetic appeal.
As mentioned earlier, sculptures occupy the same space as us, lending a certain realistic quality to the art. This realism is what allows sculptors to dramatically improve an area just by rendering a work of art.
Sculpting is an art form that has stood the test of time, and its definition continues to grow and evolve in the modern world. Sculptures are created to communicate specific ideas, immortalize people and concepts, honor heroes, and give free rein to artistic expression.
As such, sculptors will always be present and continue to provide us with creative insights that can help significantly alter our lives.
