The Early Classical Period is a time where sculptors are trying to depict the human body in the most realistic fashion as possible. I chose to discuss the "Charioteer" as a good example of the male form in the Early Classical Period.

Greek art is to be compared by no other. None can match the amazing creativity and skill of the Greeks. They went from the Geometric period where sculpture merely consisted simple shapes onto the Archaic period where mirrored Egyptian art. From then the Greeks progressed to Early Classical art where creating more realistic art was the goal of sculptors then. In the Highly Classical art period we see the Greeks perfect this goal. And finally we reach the Hellenistic Period where this perfected art can be used in different ways to show feelings, actions and emotion. I have seen some Greek art in person when I visited the Mus'ee du Louver and I must say it was absolutely the most intriguing art I have ever seen in my entire life. This culture's masterpieces have shaped and provided a backbone for sculptures in the future.

Although beauty in a piece was greatly admired the Hellenistic period the sculptors did not just depict beautiful things. In my final piece used, reality is the main goal of the sculptor and was the main goal of many sculptors of that time. I chose the "Old Market Woman" because it depicted a female body that was not idealized. The subject matter here is an old woman, obviously poor, going through town either buying or selling goods. Her face is very descriptive but not only with details it also shows emotion. As you can see this woman is elderly. We can observe this in the wrinkles in her face and the sagging of her skin. Her facial expression shows us that these trips to the market are becoming taxing to her body. It is not an easy trip for her as she ages. Her hair is wispy and pulled back and out of the way. Her clothes are tattered and torn and falling off of her sickly body. The body is in a natural pose. She seems to be trudging through the market trying to get her goods and go home. Her body is in movement. Movement, emotion, and reality were the main goals to reach in the Hellenistic period. And they did!

Starting with the beginning is Geometric art. Geometric art is very similar to Egyptian art we have discussed in the past. Geometric art was done mainly in wood, clay, ivory and bronze. An Example of Geometric art is the "Bronze Running Girl." The sculptor has chosen to reduce her body parts into simple geometric shapes. This was typical of sculptures of the Geometric era. The faces of the individuals being depicted were very vague. Faces were not yet realistic; stances were not in real life proportion. The main focus of this piece was to get the basic point that this was a female running. It was no one in particular. This general depiction of men and women was common for sculptors of this time. They used negative space to enhance the interest in each of these pieces, but all in all they were very basic. Most of these works have been found in sanctuaries. This may lead us to believe that they wer

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