relief, sculpture, marble
portrait
sculpture
asian-art
relief
ancient-mediterranean
sculpture
marble
statue
Copyright: Public Domain
This serene Head of Buddha, made of bronze, is of unknown origin. It invites us to think about process. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, which melts at a relatively low temperature. This allows for highly detailed casting, as we see in the precisely rendered curls of the hair, and the smoothly polished face. Consider the labor involved in this work. First, the mining of the raw materials. Then the mixing of the alloy, the making of the mold, and the skilled work of the pour. Finally, the finishing touches. All of this points to a complex network of making. While the identity of the artist remains a mystery, their deep understanding of the material, and the considerable effort embedded in this artwork, speaks volumes. It reminds us that even in the most revered images, the hand of the maker, and the realities of production, are always present.
Comments
Alexander the Great invaded India in 330 b.c. conquering the ancient kingdom of Gandhara which occupied much of present day Pakistan. This brought northwestern India into contact with the Mediterranean world and, from about the first to the late fourth century a.d., there flourished a Gandharan school of sculpture in which a mixture of Eastern and Western influences is evident. Certain characteristics of the Greco-Roman sculptural style were combined with Indian motifs and iconography to produce the stone images in grey schist that represents some of the earliest sculptural representations of the Buddha. The head is distinguished by facial features derived from classical sources such as its wavy hairstyle and natural physiognomy. The youthful face, half-shut eyes, and pensive expression connote the young Shakyamuni's spiritual searching.
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