Reply To: Progression or regression?

[Dean Riley]

I have seen that many people say that they can see both sides of the debate whether Hellenistic art was a progression or regression of humanist values. I must say that I have no problems finding weight to support why Hellenistic art was a progression of humanist values, but can not find anything to support how it was a regression. During the Hellenistic period, the artists started using more “non-traditional” subject matter such babies and the elderly. They also started showing emotions in their art which was very rare before this period. Instead of elevating man to the gods level, they began giving the gods more human characteristics.