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“Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” Analysis
“Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” is a well carved and attracting art by Egyptian drawn between 332-30 BC demonstrating traditional cultural beliefs and customs. The engraved coffin portrays that Pedi had a high rank on that particular religion regarding how the body is wrapped with multiple linen clothing, gold face and some painted necklaces signifying a high rank on the religious community. The painting has been preserved especially to the extent of being in a glass frame which can be a symbol of loyalty and respect the entire community towards the deceased. The annotated catalog states that Egyptian designed the coffin in the likeliness of their entire gods who are believed to protect Pedi throughout his journey to eternal life. Generally, the artist uses the visual elements as well as principles of design in a sophisticated and impressive way to bring out a sacred outlook in describing the paramount Pedi-Osiris. In Egyptian’s “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris,” the author made use of composed proportion, active variety and unity acquiring a sense of coherence in representing the Egyptian cultural religion in an informative and exclusive way.
In this paper, the design principles and formal elements are discussed in an in-depth extent as they are the primary factors that convey an understanding of the image and are essential in carrying out its analysis. In “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” artwork, the artist makes practical use of the visual elements which attracts the viewer’s attention. Some of these elements include texture, shape, form, line, value, color and space. The formal elements used have related to each other bringing out the in one piece image. For instance, the lines are the fundamental elements that act as the foundations of any drawing in signifying the shape and form of the image. Looking at the lines in the Egyptian’s artwork to a profound extent, the artist uses curved lines which suggests ease and comfort in expressing the intended facts. These lines are contour and expressive in their way that makes the author be able to have the real shape, form, and space that the artwork takes. The use of continuous lines leads the viewer’s eyes in a specific direction, and their thickness postulates the strength of the image.
The second visual element seen in the “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” painting is the color. The color creates the viewer’s first impression towards the image, and with the overall outlook, the colors used to decorate the pictures are suggesting and dramatically communicates the author’s message regarding cultural values and norms. The face of the revered sculpture has been painted with gold color, its eyes are black-lined, and the fake beards are drawn in a unique color. The colors are associated with a kind of headship and supremacy postulating that the deceased Pedi was highly esteemed in the community. The act of appropriately using various colors enable the Egyptian to be able to accurately distinguish different clothing as well as the face of the carving. In this case, the clothes are painted red and covered by differently painted beads. The artist makes use of analogous colors to pain the drawing which effectively creates the rhythm of the image. The author somehow uses light value and consistent bright intensity color in the artwork.
The shape of “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” scripture is organic as it represents a natural feature and in this case, it almost looks like that of a standing human being. According to the catalog, the carving acts as a drawing of a coffin seven inches in length which was made for the famous Egyptian priest Pedi. The artwork takes a solid shape thus represent in a three-dimensional form, and the curves and angles signify the artist is skilled and experienced in the drawing. The author applies the perspective of the picture and adequately uses art behavior to instigate a positive feeling to the viewers of the scripture. The form of the Egyptian’s image is three dimensional regarding that it has the length, width, as well as the depth and this, profoundly determines its shape.
The other formal element evident in the Egyptian’s artwork is the space. Space is the area around and between the object have been effectively used in drawing the “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” carving. The artists have significantly utilized both the positive and negative space resulting in the proportionality between the real object and the free area in the image. The space in the artwork is real thus three-dimensional, and an atmospheric perspective is used. Through visual texture, the author has used his artistic skills efficiently in portraying a hard and rough texture. Texture determines the quality of work, and in this particular artwork, high value has been attained through the practical use of different colors while drawing. The artist’s skills in painting technique generate a positive illusion the illustrated texture.
Looking at the sculpture, the visual element goes hand in hand with the principles of design in making it a real and hilarious structure. These design principles evident in the Egyptian’s carving include balance, movement, pattern, emphasis, variety, unity, rhythm, and portion. They collectively describe how the artist makes use of the formal art elements in the painting. To start with emphasis, it is the underlying section of the artwork that attracts the viewer’s attention. In “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” sculpture, the face of the image can be referred to as it emphasis. The author uses a gold color which is contrasting from the other defined red color of the clothing and black top head part to stress on the high rank and value of the deceased. The movement of the image is enhanced through the lines, color and shape which demonstrates the path in which the viewer’s eyes take to be able to differentiate between the actual object and space.
The author enhances balanced composition where the visual elements like color, shape the object weight, as well as the color, are well distributed throughout the image. The balance is asymmetrical as the elements such as shape and color in each side of the artwork seem to be different, and they still look balanced. The proportion of the image is competent as all the parts relate well in size creating a feeling of unity. In this case, the size of the head is proportional to the body of the sculpture signifying the standard form of human. The pattern of the image by Egyptian is coherent where elements such as the color of the clothing are repeated from the bottom to the top making the painting active and have a form of unity. The case is the same with the rhythm of “Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” carving where the color of the paint is put in an organized way. The artist significantly keeps the rhythm active and impressive thus effectively creates the mood of the viewer. The variety of the image is enhanced through various elements such as shape, color, and line ending up catching the audience attention. Also, the act of comprehensiveness of the art develops a feeling of accord among the viewer as a result of unity in using visual elements.
“Coffin of Pedi-Osiris” artwork by Egyptian appropriately employs the principles of designs and visual elements depicting the art skills and techniques the Egyptian had during those early days. The image conveniently portrays the cultural norms of the entire community regarding their religious beliefs and standards. The illustrated above analysis proves on how high quality the artwork is as it deploys balanced composition as well as the proportional and consistent use of art designs and formal rudiments.
