Looking back at Greek culture and artistic development, it can be seen as an ever changing , dynamic time period unlike some other past artistic, static societies like the Egyptians. It constantly evolved over the course of seven centuries to reach the height of its evolution. Two Greek periods that will be examined are the Archaic and Classical Greek eras.
The Archaic period was a time of development and trial and error in which the arts were established. Tools were perfected and past artistic cannons improved. They began making their tools out of stronger materials like iron. Many of the tools developed are still used by sculptors today like iron point, chisels, and drills. .
Even though this was a developmental period many improvements were achieved in comparison to the preceding period while still maintaining a distinctive Archaic signature. Kouri statues began to emerge. They were typically found placed in various temples within the Greek city-states and placed over graves. Despite location, the Kouri statues were sculpted in a way as if to suggest someone in waiting. Some believe they were dedicated to various deities while others believe the statues were used as a way to represent their creators constantly prepared in prayer for the return of their god. Their purpose was to embody a spirit.
Archaic Greek sculptors fashioned the kouri statues quite similar despite their beginning evolution. Their heads were chiseled with pointed features and square, broad noses that join to the eyebrows in a flat plane. Known for their "Archaic smiles," their mouths were created full lipped and rounded at the corners. The Kouri body structure followed a ridged suit as well. They were created in a frozen walking stance with their weigh distributed evenly in an unreal symmetrical form. Finally, the hair was decoratively stylized in an almost stuck on helmet like fashion. What made the Archaic kouri statue so special was for the first time the human figure broke away from the Egyptian cannon and now had a left and right arm as well as a left and right leg.
