Art in the Inca Empire
Inca Art
Inca art is best seen in highly polished metalwork (in gold - considered the sweat of the sun, silver - considered the tears of the moon, and copper), ceramics, and textiles, with the last being considered the most prestigious by the Incas themselves. Designs often use geometrical shapes, are technically accomplished, and standardized. The checkerboard stands out as a very popular design. One of the reasons for repeated designs was that pottery and textiles were often produced for the state as a tax, and so artworks were representative of specific communities and their cultural heritage. Just as today coins and stamps reflect a nation's history, so, too, Andean artwork offered recognisable motifs which either represented the specific communities making them or the imposed designs of the ruling Inca class ordering them. Figure 1 shows a picture of one of the sculpted Incan Animals. It is called "The Old Gold Fish Sculpture" |
Inca Art and Pottery
Potters and other craftsmen like silversmiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons during Inca period lived in towns. Their products were used by the government and by the nobility. They didn't have to worry about the food for them, as foods and wools for cloth were supplied to them from the government warehouse.When Inca government flourished in Andes, already pottery was the most developed art in that region, as people of that regions were making things of clay for several thousands years. So when Inca conquered them, there was already a good numbers of skilled potters in that area.During the Inca regime ,pots were decorated with different geometric designs. usually they used red, black and white colors. They did the designs so well that they looked like woodwork or metalwork. Some villages had favorite designs. Different regions had their own designs.
Figure 2 is an ancient type of Incan Pottery.
Potters and other craftsmen like silversmiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons during Inca period lived in towns. Their products were used by the government and by the nobility. They didn't have to worry about the food for them, as foods and wools for cloth were supplied to them from the government warehouse.When Inca government flourished in Andes, already pottery was the most developed art in that region, as people of that regions were making things of clay for several thousands years. So when Inca conquered them, there was already a good numbers of skilled potters in that area.During the Inca regime ,pots were decorated with different geometric designs. usually they used red, black and white colors. They did the designs so well that they looked like woodwork or metalwork. Some villages had favorite designs. Different regions had their own designs.
Figure 2 is an ancient type of Incan Pottery.
Inca Art and Sculptures
Another form of Inca art was sculpting items from various metals. These skills were believed to have been developed by people from all corners of the Inca Empire using people from different regions in order to create a varied art form. The Chimu civilization provided an inspiration for the Inca people as they were regarded as excellent metal workers. The Incas used different types of metal in regards to the status the purpose of metal would be used for, an example of this would be bronze and copper were only used for creating axe blades and knives, the use of precious metals such as gold and silver were only used for ritual ceremonies and for nobles like the Inca royal family.
Figure 4 is a statue of an ancient Incan god, with people worshipping them.
Another form of Inca art was sculpting items from various metals. These skills were believed to have been developed by people from all corners of the Inca Empire using people from different regions in order to create a varied art form. The Chimu civilization provided an inspiration for the Inca people as they were regarded as excellent metal workers. The Incas used different types of metal in regards to the status the purpose of metal would be used for, an example of this would be bronze and copper were only used for creating axe blades and knives, the use of precious metals such as gold and silver were only used for ritual ceremonies and for nobles like the Inca royal family.
Figure 4 is a statue of an ancient Incan god, with people worshipping them.
Inca Rituals
As the Incas relied heavily on agriculture in order for their society to function effectively it was very important to them to hold rituals that would honor the gods who make their crops grow. During the feast each day a ritual chanting begins at dawn when the sun rises. It then grows to a crescendo at noon, and finishes with silence by dusk. Burnt offerings of llamas are given to the sun god. The Inca royalty are dressed in clothing that is comprised of both silver and gold.
As the Incas relied heavily on agriculture in order for their society to function effectively it was very important to them to hold rituals that would honor the gods who make their crops grow. During the feast each day a ritual chanting begins at dawn when the sun rises. It then grows to a crescendo at noon, and finishes with silence by dusk. Burnt offerings of llamas are given to the sun god. The Inca royalty are dressed in clothing that is comprised of both silver and gold.
What was ancient Inca Art like?
Inca art was mostly consisted of textiles,stonemasonry and music and literature. Music and dance were important to the Incas and were prominently featured at Inca festivals. At these celebrations groups of men chanted out songs in perfect unison. For musical instruments, they used drums, whistles, flutes, and panpipes (wind instruments with several pipes attached to a mouthpiece) made from wood, bone, and ceramics The Incas, weaving was the ultimate visual artistic expression; it was universally appreciated, in the way that painting is appreciated by many modern civilizations. Making colorful textiles was extremely time-consuming for the Incas, and it required a wide variety of skilled laborers. The two most common types of cloth were woven from cotton or from alpaca or llama wool.Along with metalwork, the Incas are known for their stonemasonry (work of a skilled builder who expertly lays cut or otherwise fitted units of stone in construction). The most elegant Inca architecture is simple and, for the most part, undecorated on the outside. Temples and palaces were constructed of precisely cut limestone or granite blocks, some of which were immense.
Inca art was mostly consisted of textiles,stonemasonry and music and literature. Music and dance were important to the Incas and were prominently featured at Inca festivals. At these celebrations groups of men chanted out songs in perfect unison. For musical instruments, they used drums, whistles, flutes, and panpipes (wind instruments with several pipes attached to a mouthpiece) made from wood, bone, and ceramics The Incas, weaving was the ultimate visual artistic expression; it was universally appreciated, in the way that painting is appreciated by many modern civilizations. Making colorful textiles was extremely time-consuming for the Incas, and it required a wide variety of skilled laborers. The two most common types of cloth were woven from cotton or from alpaca or llama wool.Along with metalwork, the Incas are known for their stonemasonry (work of a skilled builder who expertly lays cut or otherwise fitted units of stone in construction). The most elegant Inca architecture is simple and, for the most part, undecorated on the outside. Temples and palaces were constructed of precisely cut limestone or granite blocks, some of which were immense.
Monumental Architecture
Architecture was by far the most important of the Inca arts, with textiles reflecting motifs that were at their height in architecture. The main example is the capital city of Cusco. The site of Machu Picchu was constructed by Inca engineers. The stone temples constructed by the Inca used a construction that fit together so well that a knife could not be fitted through the stonework. Figure 5 is a monumental site built by the incas called Machu Picchu. Figure 6 is also a monumental site. Figure 7 is a monumental site. Figure 8 is a famous Incan statue. |