Escalante 1

Jackeline Escalante

Professor Frank Fierro

HUM-2220-23630

26 January 2016

Comparison of New York Kouros and Anavyssos Kouros

The first sculptures of the archaic period where mainly influenced by the

traditional Egyptian format. When first taking a look at these two sculptures, is

inevitable to see the development, differences, and similarities that these present,

despite that they were made by different sculptors. The main feature that both of these

sculptures share in common is that the male body is been depicted fully in the nude.

Furthermore, another similarity is the way in which these sculptures are standing; both

Kouros are reflecting the Egyptian influence. The weight is evenly distributed on both

legs, although one is placed in front of the other, fists are clenched and attached to the

sides, stylized muscular detail, and flat planes in the face.

Another thing in common is that both were sculpted in a life-size figure and also

the material used for the elaboration of these sculptures was a block of marble, which

can only mean that the statues were made to last throughout the centuries, and also to

serve as a reminder not only of their lives, but also of their family lives and their

descendant’s lives. These two Kouros statues are also representations of youth, the ideal

of manhood, and perfection. Therefore, these statues are not only some beautiful

representation of human in generally, but are a symbol of perfection and beauty. They

present almost a strict symmetry since the different parts of the anatomy are depicted as

simple geometric forms.

 Escalante 2

On the other hand, not everything in these sculptures is similar. In fact, the signs

of progress from one sculpture to the other are very notorious. This because during the

archaic period artists started to ask more questions, such as what do human beings

really look like? How do perspective work? The Anavyssos Kouros, which was made

about seventy years later than the New York Kouros shows a significant progress

towards naturalism. First of all, the shape and proportions of the body are considerably

more realistic, lifelike, and present an organic appearance. Features such as the toes,

fists, chest, smaller head, shorter neck, wider hips, more proportionated lower legs with

respect the upper legs, and a body that has thickened give the sculpture by a far greater

vitality. The contours of the body are more continuous and flowing, and the transitions

from one part of the body to another are soft and not as angular as in the New York

Kouros. Lastly, the Anavyssos Kouros shows slightly smiling lips which give the

sculpture a more relaxed and life-like feeling in comparison with the New York Kouros.