The Family Group Analysis

The Statue OF A Family Group

The Introduction to the World of Art What does that exactly mean? A piece of art usually has two components. The two components consist of form and content. Both components identify the ideal aspects of a particular image. While studying Egypt I was asked to visit the Brooklyn Museum of Art. After exploring the Egyptian Gallery I was able to identify the many different components to a particular exhibit. These components include size, measurement, design, text, and different tools, which were used to make this particular piece. In my exploration I Was able to identify why this sculpture was made, how it was used and now a representational of many different cultures groups and or races.

The reason for my visit to the museum is to select a piece of art, in the form of a sculpture, tomb text or design. The exhibit I chose to write about is a “Statue OF A
Family Group” in circa 2371-2298 b.c. Often In society the different family groups consist of the father, mother and child. The father being the head, the mother being the foundation and the child which symbolizes the unit formed into one. Each family member plays an important role symbolizing the strength, weakness, and nurturer.

“The Family Group” sculpture was made out of Limestone.
Limestone is a material that usually consists of mineral, sandstone, granite, or marble. Granite as well as limestone has to be split to obtain stone blocks that can be used for building purposes. Because granite is a crystalline rock and limestone a sedimentary rock the methods to do this differ in details. Any stone, that has fine cracks or break lines is unsuitable for building. Suitable is only the healthy stone, the stone which is intact in its natural state of composition and aggregation with its structure the way it was grown. This is the reason why working the stone with the help of fire, heat or cold will not result in a stone that can be used for building. Heat or cold creates fractures and fissures and destroys the inner structure of the stone. To build the sculpture the ancient Egyptians only used building stones made from granite and limestone in perfect condition and that is only a stone which has been split off. The tools that were used were more than likely consisted of knifes hammers, and
daggers.
The Family Groups statue from the Old Kingdom often shows the adult male as the larger figure indicating his position as head of household. The much smaller figure being the woman represents her kneeling and embracing her husband’s leg in a statement showing love and support. The couple’s son is shown naked with his hair in a side lock an standard way of indicating that he is a young child.
The twentieth century work of art represents a diverse image for the many different twenty first century households. The sculpture identifies the male that seems strong, courageous and being a bread winner. His representational style identifies that he contributes a great deal of guidance to his family. He also demonstrated foundation a unit of a father, mother and child. The mother shows great respect for her family. She shows that her strength of support will help her husband and give him the backbone support that he needs. The child seems to be quiet in a stance that says “children should be seen and not heard”.
After my field experience to the Brooklyn Museum of Art I was able to identify many historical artifacts which helps puts pieces of puzzles together that tells the great story of civilization. Entering the museum I wasn’t sure what to expect. I chose the particular piece because my husband and son accompanied me on the visit. The Family Group sculpture brought great awareness and fact how a strong unit family which consist of a father mother and child is so important based in values morals and ethnical beliefs.