Home Forums Perfect Proportion Perfect Proportion Reply To: Perfect Proportion

#6855
Gabe
Participant

As with the pursuit of perfection in any circumstance, the goal is ultimately unattainable and shifts the more that one tries to chase it. Naturally what it meant to have a perfect proportion changed for the Greeks throughout the classical period. For instance, the early classical statue Kritios Boy more closely resembles the Kore of earlier times, whereas by the late classical period statues showed more gesture and emotion as in the Lysippos’ Man Scraping Himself. This is an anticipation of the Hellenic period, but also indicates that the Greeks view of perfection moved from the abstract to a more embodied form throughout the period. I think this can be seen in our culture in the shift from 50s chic, suits, etc. to now a more provocative, informal, and often chaotic ascetic a la Lady Gaga.