Comparison of the Depiction of the Human Body in Art

With their simple, nude, idealized sculptural forms, and stances devoid of contrapposto, the Male and Female Figures from Baule, Cote d’Ivoire (see left) and the Greek Kouros (see lower) appear similar at first glance; upon closer inspection, however, the statues depict the human body and ideal forms in different manners. For example, both statues depict idealized human forms, but the respective societies upheld different characteristics as ideal. The sculptor of the Baule figures exaggerated the lengths of the figures’ necks and enlarged the size of their heads and calf muscles, bestowing them with ideal qualities in Baule culture. Similarly, the Kouros boasts a triangular shaped head and hair, a flat face, a slim waste, and appealed to the love of pattern that dominated the Daedalic style of the time. In addition to their stylistic characteristics, however, the Baule figures include naturalistic aspects of human anatomy while the Kouros attempt at anatomically correct muscular is rendered inaccurately.