Antoni Tàpies shared a sensibility with artists affected by the Second World War and the dropping of the atomic bomb. He soon expressed an interest in rough matter - earth, dust, atoms and particles - which made him start using all kinds of materials foreign to academic artistic expression and experimenting with new techniques. The matter paintings make up a substantial part of his work.

阅读更多

The superb execution of this delicately carved vase is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptian artisans. The restrained aspect that characterizes the vase serves to focus the attention on its well-proportioned form and richness of material. The artist has deliberately incorporated the beautifully banded alabaster into his concept of the finished work, adding a high polish to enhance its lustre.

阅读更多

This rare and exceptionally large painted tjurunga, or sacred board, has its front covered with an incised geometric décor, painted over with a long sinuous line representing the journey of a great mythological hero dating from the time of creation. The circle and dot motifs placed symmetrically on either side of the line are mnemotechnical devices indicating places and times during the journey at which the deity slept, gave battle to occult forces, dug for water, encountered strange beings and witnessed magical or religious events.

阅读更多

This slate torso wears a tightly-clinging monastic robe, revealing the contours of an apparently sexless body. The aesthetic qualities of this torso are derived from the harmonious balance of volumes, the beautiful contours and the fine stone surface. The image of the Buddha or "The Enlightened One" expresses serene quiescence. The harmony of his perfect proportions and the graciousness of his physical form represent one of the many qualities or powers of a Buddha.

阅读更多

The large body of the urn stands on an unadorned circular foot and is provided with two unpierced handles. The rim and upper body are decorated with a rope pattern, rather thick on the body and finer on the rim. A large molded lid covers the urn.

阅读更多

A left foot clad in a tight open toe boot is firmly planted on the rough surface of the statue's base. The meticulous sense of detail and adept modelling of both the human flesh and leather texture of the boot indicate this was the work of a highly skilled sculptor.

阅读更多

Due to their strikingly abstract, timeless conception and execution, Valdivia stone effigies are immediately recognizable even by untrained eyes. They are found in contexts dating to the last of the eight phases in the chronology of the Valdivia culture, the so-called Piquigua phase (2000 - 1500 BCE).

阅读更多

This whetstone gained its beautiful and markedly contemporary shape as well as its highly polished surface through years and years of repetitive use. The size indicates that it was used by a sedentary farming society, as it is far too large and heavy to be carried around by hunter-gatherers.

阅读更多