Gender representation in Ancient Egyptian tomb art

One approach to understanding Egyptian art would be to question its raison d’etre. We already know that its major purpose was to serve the needs of the elite, especially the Pharaoh and his retainers, both in this life and the next. We could definitely say that many scenes can be interpreted by not only what they depict, but also as a way of sending a message to those whose support the king required.

The representation of males and females in New Kingdom Egyptian tombs is a clear case where the artist conveys a message other than visual reality. In the typical New Kingdom tomb painting, relief, or statue, males are dressed in a Shendyt with perhaps a shirt, while women wear tight-fitting sheath dresses, probably made from a single piece of cloth wrapped around the body. However, archaeological examples of ancient Egyptian clothing demonstrate that the most common garment was a bag tunic... a linen bag with sleeves that fit very loosely. Both men and women wore it. In art, however, men wear an outfit that suggests freedom of movement while a woman’s garment suggests restricted movement. Even without archaeological evidence, the typical female garment depicted in art could never match reality. The dresses are so impossibly tight that a woman could not move, sit, or walk. The real intention behind this representation is to reveal the woman’s body. These dresses clearly reveal the overall female form and the pubic triangle. Since the difference between everyday Egyptian reality and artistic presentation is so radical, there must have been a reason for the difference.

Men are generally active in tomb representations. In Old Kingdomand Middle Kingdom tombs, the deceased reaches for offerings at the offering table or inspects agricultural laborers or workshops under his control, hunting birds or fishing. These roles definitely correspond to the Egyptian view of men actively winning a place for themselves in the afterlife.

The importance of women in Egyptian society is often conveyed in temple and tomb artwork as well. The chief role of the woman in Egypt was that of life-giver and supporter. Because of this, the emphasis in art was on their role as mothers, and they were often depicted wearing little or no clothing. The intent was not to portray eroticism but rather to symbolize reproduction—since all people come into the world without clothing, the idea of nudity is connected to that of birth. Due to their connection with birth, women are most often found depicted on tombs, for the Egyptians considered the tomb a means to re-birth into the next world. However, women represented in tombs could also hold other meanings. When labeled with their name in hieroglyphs, a figure of a woman could represent an individual wife, daughter, or cousin. Many women represented in one tomb could be a means for a man to emphasize his wealth. Both of these roles would be important to the deceased in addition to the overall conception of women as the source of rebirth.

In conjunction with how women and men were portrayed individually, much can be learned from the different scenes that artists chose to portray. Daily life scenes of craftsmen and of peasants engaged in agricultural tasks had a deeper meaning than the tasks portrayed. These scenes functioned at a literal level, but also represent a way of structuring life. Artists chose some activities to represent status and wealth in tombs while other activities were left out of art altogether. This selection was purposeful. Craftsmen and peasants were always portrayed at their most productive for the benefit of the tomb owner. Even though Egyptologists have depended on these types of scenes for general knowledge about life in ancient Egypt, artists had neither interest nor intention of providing an illustrated guide to Egyptian life when they decorated temples and tombs. Their art served a definite purpose.

For instance, agricultural scenes of peasants working in the fields stress the owner’s status, wealth, and distinction in the physical world. There is a connection with the spiritual and the practical, in that by working in the fields they are able to provide a permanent supply of foodstuffs for the afterlife. In addition, they function symbolically to depict the passage of the seasons of the year and thus the continuation of life for the deceased spirit. The flax harvest painted in a tomb suggests an abundance of linen clothing for the deceased. Scenes of manufacturing jewelry guarantee that the tomb owner will have jewelry in the next world.

Next up: an in-depth look at the art of the Amarna period, during the time of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten, and the brief reign of his son, Tut-Ankh-Amun. Stay tuned.