“Is happiness the feeling behind the smile of an Archaic kouros or kore, or was it meant to convey other qualities that now escape our understanding?”
These words are from the large book in the center called “A World of Emotions,” which was the guide for the exhibit of the same name.
I love looking at ancient faces, whether on pottery, sculptures, or frescoes. Despite so many unknowns about the ancient world, these artworks can inspire a connection with the past. Feeling familiarity and difference, knowledge and wonder, offers an experience of duality, even paradox, that can be a source of empathy.
What do you feel when you look at faces from the past?