Reply To: Hellenistic Variety

[Jessi Willeto]

Hellenistic art seems to display more varying works and emotions than classical greek artwork — the agony and pain seen in The Laocoon is so different than the emotions displayed in the classical period sculptures. Even though the classical period is more varied than the archaic period in facial expression, the Hellenistic period displays pain, sleep, old age, and defeat (Dying Gaul). It seems that they wanted to display more complexity and variation, going so far as to carve out their enemies because they admire their bravery. It is a lot more genuine and individualistic than previous ages– less structured than that of the classical period.