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The young man stands with his left foot advanced,
and his arms held to either side.
He stands without the benefit of any support. The fact that the artist was able to balance 2,000 pounds of solid marble
on these very slim ankles is a major technical achievement. He literally stands on his own two feet. He’s self-reliant and self-sufficient.
He literally stands on his own two feet. He’s self-reliant and self-sufficient.
He would have originally stood on a base that gave his name and identified his function either as a tomb sculpture or as a dedication in a sanctuary.
The kouros is naked, except for a narrow band
around his neck
and a ribbon that ties his beautifully groomed hair.
This is a very …
stripped-down kind of representation. There is nothing that tells us where he’s been
and where he’s going. And so our complete focus is on his body
and his mind. Looking at yourself in front of a mirror
The kouros is in no way diminished. On the contrary, his power resides in his beautiful body
and the steadfast gaze.
became a visual expression of sovereignty, and it lived on in Roman
art and beyond.
If you stop and look, more than once, maybe,
I feel
he will lead you in the most extraordinary directions.