Ly Nguyen
September 28, 2012
AP Art History 2B
Essay 3
Greece
Greek art created the foundation of the western canon of art by creating an argument
based on a search for truth. Classical Greek art depicted truth through perfection, turning ideal
sculptures into an obtainable truth. A great example of this would is the classical Greek piece by
Polykleitos, the Spear Bearer c. 450 BCE. On the other hand, Hellenistic art explored more of
realism physically and emotionally, an example would be the Hellenistic piece the Seated Boxer
c. 100-50 BCE. The Spear Bearer strives for truth by showing perfection within the human form,
although he has a very natural stance, the figure is still idealized and god-like. The Seated Boxer,
though, breaks free from idealization and is now portrayed as naturally imperfect.
It was created through the utilization of math, thus the form of the body is not found in
nature making the sculpture very idealized. By using math, the anatomy of the Spear Bearer is
perfect from head to toe. Using a series of simple mathematics, the result was a complex and
subtle organization within the figures parts. Splitting the sculpture down the middle, one side
looks to be in motion while the left side looks to be at rest. His body is brought to equilibrium
through the counterbalancing act. The truth behind the sculpture is found by exploring the
metaphysical.
The Spear Bearer is in contrapposto stance meaning that the weight is shifted to one side
of the body making the figure look more relaxed. With one foot placed behind his body, it gives
off the impression that the sculpture was just moving but is now stopping for a rest. The
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opposition in all of the figure’s limbs using chiastic balance creates a very fluid posture. With no
facial emotion, one can focus mainly on the perfection of the human form spiraling back to the
idea of truth being found in perfection.
This sculpture was called the Canon because it served as inspiration for the athletes. The
anatomy of the Spear Bearer represented truth by illustrating an idealized sculpture for athletes to
strive for this look. The Greeks found truth using the mind to perfect the image. By seeing the
Spear Bearer, the athletes were able to see the perfect image, and were able to aim for that
perfection.
The Hellenistic art piece the Seated Boxer, though, broke free from idealism. Instead, the
sculpture focused more on realism, what is actually there and can be seen visibly through the
eyes. Instead of having a blank expression like the Spear Bearer, the Seated Boxer has a look of
defeat. His nose is beaten in, his ears are demented, his body holds many scars, and his evident
aging, the Seated Boxer shows the viewer what can be seen every day thus depicting what the
Hellens believed to be truth.
Instead of images of the young and the beautiful that was often depicted from the earlier
Greek art pieces, the Seated Boxer illustrated a defeated old man of the lowest rungs of social
order. Rather than showing god-like sculptures, the Seated Boxer shows the truth of what can
often be seen day to day. The sculpture’s features are no longer idealized, but rather naturally
imperfect.
Instead of having muscular extremities and handsome features, the Seated Boxer is a
battered old man rung out with old age with a face upturned with defeat. The expression shown
on the statue shows a true expression given the circumstances unlike the Archaic Greek sculpture
the Dying Warrior from the Temple of Aphaia c. 500 BCE, where the sculpture is smiling even
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in death, the Seated Boxer shows a moment of realization that he may no longer be considered
the greatest athlete. This sculpture shows true emotion and character, pain and embarrassment
differing from the norm of Greek art.
Classical Greek art found truth within metaphysical sculptures depicting perfection,
found in the Spear Bearer with strikingly good looks and an impossibly muscular frame. The
Classical Greeks utilized perfection within their art pieces to show an obtainable truth for
athletes to work towards becoming. Hellenistic art, instead, showed truth in their art pieces
through realism seen in the Seated Boxer with a face of utter defeat and humiliation. They did
not focus on idealized figures with a handsome face and serine expression, instead, they showed
real emotions and more believable muscular features.