The artistic culture of the Eskimo people dates back around 4,000 year in parts of Canada. This form of traditional art consisted mainly of small objects like tools and weapons. It also features small miniature-size animals curved out of ivory, stones and huge bones. The elements of inspiration for Eskimo art reflected the lifestyle they embraced as fishermen and hunters, together with their vast mythology.
The "Arctic small-tool tradition" is one of the earliest around 2,000 years BC. The culture represents the earliest occupation of the arctic-North part of America by the Eskimos. Their tools had small cutting edges made from stone. The culture and tradition later branched off into 2 variants. These included the Pre-Dorset Culture on one side and smaller independent cultures and traditions.
Pre-Dorset culture was in existence about 2,500 B. C in Northwestern Canada and extended to parts of Western Greenland. The period featured small tools same as was the case in earlier periods and around 500 B. C it developed into being the Dorset Nation. It was around this time that art took shape and made more sense to the society. Materials like bones, ivory and stones were predominant. The kind of art that prevailed during this period was the figurative art where masks and sculptures were produced.
Next was the Dorset period which was more in Northeastern Canada. This was between 900 and 1,100 AD where Greenland hosted Vikings first at the south before they moved to Iceland. It has been reported by historians that the masks produced during the period reflected the relationship between the Eskimos and the Vikings since they featured European faces which showed long noses, hats which is a characteristic of the Vikings.
Different communities were also present in Canada during the change-over period from the pre-Dorset to Dorset time, such as the Ipiutak people about 500 BC. Their forms of art portrayed half-human faces, more beastly-like faces of man and some animal works. Included as well were some of skeletons.
Out of all animals, wild and domesticated, to have dominated majority of sculpture type and motif art work among this type, the polar bear has been the most common form of inspiration. It has unified culture and given a sense of understanding towards historical culture.
The historic and modern eras have seen diversity among this form of art, inspired by nature, necessity and creativity. Introduction of textiles within the Inuit form of art around the 1940's saw life-size sculptures come into play and art among the Eskimo took a different root.
Curved masks were also a common form of art. Finely curved masks with details were used in the 19th century for different rituals. Modern art among the people dates from the 1940's, when development of art by native artists was encouraged by Canadians. Contemporary art among them comprises of curved figures made of smooth soapstone, rough whalebone and ivory.
Yes, the government of Canada has given enough support to Eskimo art. They realize that it really impacts on the economy. No wonder, they have supported the preservation of the modern and ancient art of the Eskimos.
The "Arctic small-tool tradition" is one of the earliest around 2,000 years BC. The culture represents the earliest occupation of the arctic-North part of America by the Eskimos. Their tools had small cutting edges made from stone. The culture and tradition later branched off into 2 variants. These included the Pre-Dorset Culture on one side and smaller independent cultures and traditions.
Pre-Dorset culture was in existence about 2,500 B. C in Northwestern Canada and extended to parts of Western Greenland. The period featured small tools same as was the case in earlier periods and around 500 B. C it developed into being the Dorset Nation. It was around this time that art took shape and made more sense to the society. Materials like bones, ivory and stones were predominant. The kind of art that prevailed during this period was the figurative art where masks and sculptures were produced.
Next was the Dorset period which was more in Northeastern Canada. This was between 900 and 1,100 AD where Greenland hosted Vikings first at the south before they moved to Iceland. It has been reported by historians that the masks produced during the period reflected the relationship between the Eskimos and the Vikings since they featured European faces which showed long noses, hats which is a characteristic of the Vikings.
Different communities were also present in Canada during the change-over period from the pre-Dorset to Dorset time, such as the Ipiutak people about 500 BC. Their forms of art portrayed half-human faces, more beastly-like faces of man and some animal works. Included as well were some of skeletons.
Out of all animals, wild and domesticated, to have dominated majority of sculpture type and motif art work among this type, the polar bear has been the most common form of inspiration. It has unified culture and given a sense of understanding towards historical culture.
The historic and modern eras have seen diversity among this form of art, inspired by nature, necessity and creativity. Introduction of textiles within the Inuit form of art around the 1940's saw life-size sculptures come into play and art among the Eskimo took a different root.
Curved masks were also a common form of art. Finely curved masks with details were used in the 19th century for different rituals. Modern art among the people dates from the 1940's, when development of art by native artists was encouraged by Canadians. Contemporary art among them comprises of curved figures made of smooth soapstone, rough whalebone and ivory.
Yes, the government of Canada has given enough support to Eskimo art. They realize that it really impacts on the economy. No wonder, they have supported the preservation of the modern and ancient art of the Eskimos.
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