Saturday, April 14, 2007

2 Archaic Korai

Acropolis 594, on the left.

The Chian Kore, on the right.

Korai is plural for kore, meaning maiden or daughter, the always clothed feminine figures of the Archaic period. These korai from the Athenian Acropolis, date to the latter part of the sixth century BCE. They wear a sleeved chiton and himation, or cloak, draped diagonally over the body, and would originally have held an offering in their extended hand. Both pieces revel in the fall of drapery around the bodies of the young girls, revealing both the breasts and the legs beneath. Our eyes engage with the folds as they make their sinuous tour of the bodies, which are made to appear lively and energized. Certainly, these girls are fancier and freer than the Peplos Kore, and their finery is more elegant. The Chian girl's hair is in an elaborate do. They were both painted brilliantly; paint remains on the Chian maid's dress show it was dark blue with a reddish band at the neck. Her cloak was originally spangled with red and blue spirals and triangles.

It is conceivable that we are getting increasingly towards more individualistic (rather than idealistic) representation.