A rather strange phenomenon in Egyptian art history: the ‘block statues’ of ancient Egypt.
We don’t really know a lot about this statue type, or the exact meaning behind why they were made. Block statues were invented in Egypt during the early 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom, and are found most often in temples. Almost always non-royal males, they are characterized by a seated figure on the ground, knees drawn to their chest, with their torso and limbs most often covered in a tight cloak. From the cloak, their head, sometimes feet (see photo 2), and hands emerge, the latter usually visible folded over the top of the cloak. The blank surface created at the front of the statue allowed for texts to be written. The emphasis of these statues is on the squared off, block-like shape. It seems likely that this pose was derived from real life, even if we look to Egypt today, Egyptian villages still often assume this pose while resting or waiting. These statues remained popular well into the Ptolemaic Period.
The first example is of a man called Min, Overseer of the Weavers, as identified by the texts on the statue. Following a Middle Kingdom prototype, this statue was made ca. 1479-1425 BC (Dynasty 18), is from Thebes, and made of schist. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum: 37.249E.
The second is of a man called Senwosret-senebefny, with a small female figure named Itneferuseneb, who is likely his wife. The inscription, as well as identifying the figures, invokes the funerary deity, Ptah-Soker. Made of quartzite, this statue was made ca. 1836-1759 BC (late Dynasty 12). Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum: 39.602.
The final example given is the smallest at 10cm: the block statue of Sebk-nakht. 1550-1292 BC, gray granite. Courtesy of the Walters Art Museum: 22.354.
