Arts and Crafts in Egypt comprises of lots of activities that are related to making
things with hands. Some arts have been practiced from the ancient times while
some of them are the outcome of modernization.
Egyptian arts and crafts refer to the style of painting, sculpture and traditional
crafts that developed in the lower Nile Valley during the great Egyptian civilization.
Egyptian art and craft was religious in nature because of Egyptian civilization.
Clear and simple lines along with the combination of simple shapes and flat
areas were the common features that dominated ancient Egyptian art. Ancient
Egyptian artist mainly preferred use of lines to display the correct proportions
in their work. Middle Kingdom period of Egypt history was the golden period
of Egyptian arts development.
Symbolism had also played a major role in ancient Egyptian art development.
Beside of symbols used for gods and Pharaohs, animals were also highly recommended
symbolic figures in Egyptian art. Use of color also played significant part
in establishing sense of order. Blue and green color was used for representing
Nile River and life while yellow stood for the Sun god. Red was the color of
power and vitality.
A major contribution in art is of Pottery that is one of the valuable art form
from the archaeological point of view. Most of the pottery remains were buried
in the burial chambers of the dead. It was the customary tradition of Egypt
to craft cones of pottery on the walls of the tombs on which were engraved the
legends associated with the dead occupants of tombs.
One more class of Egyptian art and craft was sculpture art form. Massive and
magnificent statues were built that represent Egyptian gods and famous kings
and queens. Egyptian artists followed very strict pattern while crafting sculpture.
Male statues were darker than the female statues. While crafting seated statues
utter care was shown in making hands, as they were required to be placed on
the knees. Specific rules governed in case of gods' sculptures.
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