Boat Carrying Captives from Nubia, Tomb of Huy 1353 BC

Charles K. Wilkinson made this painted facsimile of a wall in the Tomb of Huy using a meticulous process of copying. Consider the original context, where artisans applied pigments to prepared walls. These pigments, derived from minerals and plants, would have been ground and mixed carefully. The materiality of the pigments contributes to the artwork’s appearance: the ochre tones, the sharp reds, and the deep blacks all speak to the natural world. The drawing and painting of the boat carrying captives reveals a social hierarchy, emphasizing the labor and power dynamics of ancient Egypt. Wall paintings in tombs are not just decoration; they are a way of ensuring the deceased’s successful passage into the afterlife. Wilkinson’s painstaking work of replication allows us to appreciate the craftsmanship of the original while reflecting on the cultural meanings embedded in its materials and making. Understanding the material and the making helps us look beyond conventional definitions of fine art.