Art Analysis: The Bust Of Queen Nefertiti

The Bust of Queen Nefertiti (1353-1335 BCE), was found in December of 1912 and is currently displayed at the Agyptisches Museum in Berlin in the Armana workshop of Thutmose by the German excavation group led by Ludwig Borchardt. She stands at approximately 1’8” in height. The painted limestone is a beautiful exhibition of life-size sculpture.
This bust takes a small departure from the tradition sculptures Egypt in that she portrays a sense of introspection and a slightly artificial sensitivity. There is much expression shown in the most minimal upturn of the corners of her somewhat pierced lips. It shows Nefertiti from the shoulders up wearing her Blue Crown. The Blue crown has some damage to it as do her ears but little other damage is apparent on the sculpture. There is no trace of hair beneath her crown. She has thick black eyebrows that do not connect in the middle as was usual with earlier forms of
Her eyes are lined in the traditional black kohl style of the Egyptians. Her nose is long and feminine and she has delicate lips that are also feminine with a naturalistic philtrum between the two. She has high cheek bones that are considered a mark of true beauty. The expression of the Queen is a peaceful and she looks slightly downward. Her neck is long and meets the shoulders where her necklace/collar begins. Her collar looks to be a traditional collar of inlays of stones and colored glass.
The bust of Nefertiti shows the great pains taken with every piece of royal art even those that serve only as studies for other artists. Nefertiti’s eye is a piece of inlaid rock crystal on a flat paste of black wax. The other eye was unfinished; this is thought to be intentional. The sculpture’s facial features are part of the ideals of the Amarna period, such as the elongated neck and emaciated cheeks, by the time that this sculpture is created the early strangeness of the Amarna period is softened so