Archaic smile

Archaic smile

The Archaic smile was used by Greek Archaic sculptors, especially in the second quarter of the sixth century BCE, possibly to suggest that their subject was alive, and infused with a sense of well-being. To viewers habituated to realism, the smile is flat and quite unnatural looking, although it could be seen as a movement towards naturalism, if such a move is sought. One of the most famous examples of the Archaic Smile is the Kroisos Kouros.

The dying warrior from the west pediment of the Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, Greece is an interesting context as the warrior is near death.

In the Archaic Period of Ancient Greece (roughly 600 BCE to 480 BCE), the art that proliferated contained images of people who had the archaic smile. It is a smile which, to modern interpreters, suggests a feeling of happiness via ignorance. It has been theorized that in this period, artists felt it either represents that they were blessed by the gods in their actions, thus the smile, or that it is similar to pre-planned smiles in modern photos.The significance of the convention is not known, although it is often assumed that for the Greeks this kind of smile reflected a state of ideal health and well-being. It has also been suggested that it is simply the result of a technical difficulty in fitting the curved shape of the mouth to the somewhat blocklike head typical of Archaic sculpture.

See also

* Ancient Greek art
* Baekje smile

External links

* [http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~bruceh/cc307/archaic/images/098.jpgThe Dying Warrior from the Temple of Alphaisa]
* [http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9009264]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • archaic smile — noun : a facial expression determined by prominent cheekbones and upturned mouth corners and resembling a smile used especially in ref. to archaic Greek sculpture * * * Fine Arts. a conventional representation of the mouth characterized by… …   Useful english dictionary

  • archaic smile — Fine Arts. a conventional representation of the mouth characterized by slightly upturned corners of the lips, found esp. on Greek sculpture produced prior to the 5th century B.C. [1900 05] * * * ▪ Greek sculpture  the smile that… …   Universalium

  • archaic smile — noun Date: circa 1902 an expression that resembles a smile and is characteristic of early Greek sculpture …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • archaic smile — archa′ic smile′ n. anq fia a representation of the mouth with slightly upturned corners of the lips characteristic of early Greek facial sculpture …   From formal English to slang

  • Archaic period in Greece — The archaic period in Greece (750 BCndash 480 BC) is a period of Ancient Greek history. The term originated in the 18th century and has been standard since. This term arose from the study of Greek art, where it refers to styles mainly of surface… …   Wikipedia

  • archaic period — ➡ Pre Columbian North America * * * ▪ art history       in history and archaeology, the earliest phases of a culture; the term is most frequently used by art historians to denote the period of artistic development in Greece from about 650 to 480… …   Universalium

  • smile — v 1. beam, grin, laugh; grin from ear to ear, grin like a Cheshire cat; simper, smirk, snicker, fleer, grimace, mouth, Sl. mug, Archaic. mow. 2.Often smile on or upon regard with favor, look favorably on, shine upon, bless, grace; favor, support …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder

  • Baekje smile — Infobox Korean name caption=A smiling bangasayusang from Silla or Baekje hangul=백제인의 미소 hanja=百濟人의 微笑 mr=Paekcheini miso rr=Baekjeinŭi misoThe Baekje smile is a term art historians use to refer to the common smile motif found in Baekje sculpture… …   Wikipedia

  • archaicsmile — archaic smile n. A representation of the human mouth with slightly upturned corners, characteristic of early Greek sculpture produced before the fifth century B.C.   [After the Archaic Period, early period of ancient Greek sculpture.] * * * …   Universalium

  • Mai Yamane — (山根 麻衣, 山根麻以) Born October 9, 1958 (1958 10 09) (age 53) Origin Izumo, Japan Genres Jazz, Blues Occupations …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”