A breath taking display of art work that intrigues the mind and gives the soul a sense of culture, the Metropolitan Museum of Art houses the finest creations, created by man. Time spans ranging from ancient to modern day, the Met can be seen as a timeline of human progression and human expression.  The museum is vast and a person can probably spend days looking at the great number of exhibitions that  depict people facing the realities of life include Greek and Roman sculptures, Egyptian tombs, and Japanese battle weapons. Every exhibit in the museum is a vibrant example of the specific time and culture, exhibits that were viewed include “Ugolino and His Sons”,  African sculptures, and many more. Through such works of art one notices several themes such as pain and suffering as well as joy and happiness. The actual massive size of the museum is astonishing and actual rooms are custom made to match exhibitions.

The sculpture of “Ugolino and His Sons” is a personal favorite, the exhibit showcases human emotion primarily fear, abandonment, and hopelessness. The sculpture created in 1865  by the artist Jean Baptiste Capeax is a depiction of a scene from Dante’s inferno. The art form used in this sculpture is naturalism, because the bodies depicted are in realistic proportions. Capeax use of realism can be compared to Michelangelo’s use of realistic bodies .The story behind the sculpture entails the imprisonment of Ugolino with his sons who are locked away in this tower and left there to starve to death. The phrase “a picture can tell a 1000 words” can be applied to this work of art because so much can be told from looking at it. In fact Jean Baptiste Capeax made the sculpture so lifelike as far as displaying human emotions are considered.  An observer can see Ugolino’s small boys huddled around their father; their faces speak of terror and pain from the lack of nourishment. Capeax masterfully details his work where the observer can see how the human body reacts to stress. The sculpture of Ugolino himself is hunched back and he is biting his nails, which is a clear indication of the stress and anxiety stemming from such a predicament. The great detail that is put on to this work gives more to the story behind the piece for example, when the sculpture is looked from the behind observers can already see the tension on Ugolino’s back by the appearance of individual vertebrates of his spine, and the overall hunch of his back.  The sculpture itself is grotesque, since the sons are asking their father to eat them because of the lack of food. The expressions of the boys themselves tell individual stories the eldest son is holding on to Ugolino, he is looking for guidance from his father even though not much can be done in such a doomed faith. Another son who is much younger is at the brink of death closes his eyes, for him death arrived too early.

African art is also very prevalent in the Met and the art that is found is strikingly different from the sculptures from the classical era. African start concentrates less on proportions of the human body and realism and more on symbolism. The African sculpture titled “The Kongo Power Figure” is a prime example of the warrior class of the Kongo, and is a representation of law and order. The main purpose of the sculpture is to evoke fear and such is done though the use of nails in the figure, since the actual sculpture has a beard full of nails. The facial features of the sculpture are very alert and those eyes seem to glare at you. Such a figure was used during rituals where people were punished for not following social norms. Its broad shoulders and bent knees hint that it is ready for attack, thus giving off a sense of authority. Such a sculpture was used readily in Kongo rituals there is a hole in the center of the piece, which is where potions would be poured. The figure itself is wearing an Apu which is a headwear worn by leadership, its teeth are filed as well, which is a sign of civilized refinement.  Thus the piece gives off a sense of respect and power.

The second African sculpture that was checked out contrasts the Kongo figure and is titled “Mother and Child.” The sculpture showcases an African mother who is holding on to her child, and is a symbol of motherly love. There is great detail found in this wooden piece even though there seems to be a lack of emotion in the piece. The mother’s face is very Spartan-like and like the Kongo piece it appears to hold a position of authority. What is a little strange about the work is that it seems to be defying gravity in ways that the stool that she is sitting on only has two legs and the mother’s two legs being additional legs to the stole. It is unclear for what are the authors purpose for such a phenomenon nevertheless it adds something to the piece since it looks more abstract.

“The Marble Stele of a Little Girl” was a piece that was made during the times of ancient Greece and depicts a little girl who is saying good bye to her doves. The interesting aspect of this figure is that it depicts a little girl who is small in size yet very mature in her facial features.  There is a sense of melancholy in the sculpture since she is saying good bye and also because such a piece would be used on a tombstone. It’s been said by the tour guide that such a piece would have been painted and the head of one of the doves is missing. The sculpture can therefore be seen as a little girl saying good bye to the world since it would be placed on a tombstone.

The Met offered enlightenment as many exhibitions captured not only human emotions but as well as cultural traditions. It was an experience that was both aesthetically pleasing and insightful.