An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Torso of a Kourosc. 550 BCE
Known as a <em>kouros,</em> the ancient Greek word for a youth, this fragmentary statue belongs to a relatively rare type of large-scale stone sculpture made for little more than a century—shortly before 600 BC to soon after 500 BC. A nude youth standing with arms to the sides and one foot slightly advanced, the type probably originated under Egyptian influence, but then developed along entirely Greek lines. Found in sanctuaries as well as cemeteries across the ancient Greek world, <em>kouroi </em>may represent gods—especially Apollo—as well as mortals. Although incomplete, this kouros retains much of its beautifully finished and patterned surface.
In antiquity, brightly colored paint would probably have rendered this <em>kouros </em>more lifelike.
marble
Overall: 62.5 cm (24 5/8 in.)
Gift of the Hanna Fund
In the folds of time, whispers of ancient Greece linger like morning mist over a quiet dawn. Among the remnants of their artistic endeavor stands a fragmentary figure—the kouros. This name, steeped in history, speaks to youth itself, a testament to life and its fleeting moments. Carved from stone, this statue isn’t just a mere artifact; it embodies the very essence of a bygone era, crafted sometime between 600 and 500 BC, a brief flicker in the vastness of time.
Imagine a young man, his form graceful, standing tall with arms extended to the sides—a symbol of vitality and balance. One foot steps forward, a subtle suggestion of movement, a dance frozen in time. This pose, so captivating, likely drew inspiration from the grandeur of Egyptian sculpture but soon blossomed into something distinctly Greek, breathing with the spirit of its people.
The kouros has made its home in sanctuaries and cemeteries, places that echo with reverence. Could this statue represent a god—perhaps the radiant Apollo? Or might it be a young mortal, a tribute to the youth that lives in all of us? Each interpretation is a thread woven into the rich tapestry of ancient culture, connecting those who gaze upon it with both the divine and the mortal.
As we reflect on this incomplete piece of artistry, we see its patina—a surface that tells tales of ages past, finely polished by the hands of those who revered it. The beauty still lingers, inviting us to pause and contemplate the stories held within the stone. Even in missing parts, it resonates, calls to our imaginations, reminding us of our own youth and the eternal dance of existence.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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