Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
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Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#2They used an art technique called fullest aspect (I think). Many of ancient Egypt's figures flatten both the front and the side views into the same figure. I think that is what you are referring to.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#3The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds.
Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#4The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Well, the article linked to implies that the reason for the flat aspect of the artwork was that they were more interested in strongly conveying themes and concepts than they were reproducing what the eye sees. The article compares it to a modern comic strip. Whether they "couldn't" draw perspective, or were just uninterested, I don't know. I believe it was the Greeks in the 6th(?) century BC who were the first to use linear perspective in their art.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#5The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#6The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
Kids aren't idiots, they just had too little time to learn everything. I've had perspective drawing in art classes in elementary school and nobody had problems understanding it after 10 minute introduction.
Have you seen the willy coyote cartoon with a road painted on a rock? It uses perspective, and kids aged 7 understand what happens.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#7The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
I don't know if you're punning or serious here.
If you're serious, you can teach elementary school kids to draw with perspective.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
Kids aren't idiots, they just had too little time to learn everything. I've had perspective drawing in art classes in elementary school and nobody had problems understanding it after 10 minute introduction. Have you seen the willy coyote cartoon with a road painted on a rock? It uses perspective, and kids aged 7 understand what happens.
> Kids aren't idiots, they just had too little time to learn everything.
These are wise words right there.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#9The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
If my memory of carrying around a book on the subject during my family’s visit to Washington, DC during the Bicentennial is accurate, I had learnt some basics of perspective drawing at the age of five.
Re: Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat?
#10The “Egyptian history” book I’m reading with my kid states that the “Egyptians couldn’t draw perspective and therefore flattened everything” and continues with that this is the reason we see multi storied houses in drawing but not in archeological finds. Does this ring a bell or is it just elementary school oversimplification again?
Do elementary school kids even understand what perspective is?
Yes. Not unusual for a first grader to have a basic understanding of it. Naming 3d shapes (pyramids, cylinders, cubes) is kindergarten level stuff.