Dawn of Egyptian Art

Egyptian art from the Pharaonic era is characterized by colossal sphinxes, elaborately decorated coffins, hieroglyphs, and beautifully modeled reliefs. Less well-known, but equally impressive, are the rare and ancient images of people, animals, and landscapes from the pre-Pharaonic era, the period that preceded and directly influenced these iconic forms of artistic expression. With lavish illustrations of more than 170 fascinating objects created from about 4000 to 2650 BC, Dawn of Egyptian Artpresents the origins of these art forms and iconography that remained in use for centuries. Comprehensive texts explore the origins and early development of the culture of ancient Egypt while discussing the representation of the self and the universe, the relationship between image and writing, and the early Egyptians' evolving view of how the world worked.

Diana Patch is associate curator in the Egyptian Art Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.