Eskimo art in Canada has a history that dates back a few thousand years, and it depicts the culture and lifestyle of Eskimos. They were hunters by nature, catching their food on land and in the water, and much of the discovered artwork revolves around their way of life in this regard. They had small items that could have been used as weaponry, or as tools for other tasks, and some of their work entailed animals made of ivory, bones and stone.
About 2,000 years B. C, there was the arctic small tool tradition and this was actually among the very first ones. It depicts what the Eskimos who were residents of the arctic north of America did. The kind of tools they used featured small cutting edges and was made out of stone. Later, this tradition would split into two options which were pre-Dorset tradition and the smaller independent traditions.
The Pre-Dorset culture was in 2,500 BC in areas of Northwestern Canada and parts of Western Greenland. Small tools were still common in this period just like in earlier years. The Pre-Dorset period evolved to become the Dorset Nation. This was around 500 BC and in this period, art started having a distinct impact in society, with common materials such as bones, ivory and stones. The most common was figurative art, which involved production of art like masks and sculptures.
The masks also showed the significance of the encounters between the Eskimos and the Vikings. The Vikings inhabited the south of Greenland, and later Iceland, while the Dorset people were found in many areas of Northeastern Canada. The masks of the time period 900 to 1,100 AD showed European facial characteristics, with long noses and also head gear, such as those worn by the Vikings.
There was the transition period between the Pre-Dorset and the Dorset periods. At the transition, civilization took new distinct shape across Canada. At about 500 B. C, there was lpiutak art in Alaska. This type of art involved use of same line art with a range of semi human faces, animal representations and human faces in their horrible versions. It also involved markings which were either joint or skeletal.
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.
In more recent years, the artworks of Eskimos has changed. Different materials were used, but they still often represented nature. The Inuit artworks of the 1940's were often of larger sculptural forms.
During the 19th century, curved masks came into existence and these were used for varied rituals among the Eskimos. Even though we can trace back the history of modern art amongst the Eskimos to 1940s, we need to appreciate the support that Canadians have injected into this art. Today, this art features curved images that are made from soapstone, rough whalebone as well as ivory.
The Canadian Government recognizes the economic and cultural benefits of Eskimo and other isolated communities in the Arctic. It has encouraged preservation of both contemporary and historic Eskimo art.
About 2,000 years B. C, there was the arctic small tool tradition and this was actually among the very first ones. It depicts what the Eskimos who were residents of the arctic north of America did. The kind of tools they used featured small cutting edges and was made out of stone. Later, this tradition would split into two options which were pre-Dorset tradition and the smaller independent traditions.
The Pre-Dorset culture was in 2,500 BC in areas of Northwestern Canada and parts of Western Greenland. Small tools were still common in this period just like in earlier years. The Pre-Dorset period evolved to become the Dorset Nation. This was around 500 BC and in this period, art started having a distinct impact in society, with common materials such as bones, ivory and stones. The most common was figurative art, which involved production of art like masks and sculptures.
The masks also showed the significance of the encounters between the Eskimos and the Vikings. The Vikings inhabited the south of Greenland, and later Iceland, while the Dorset people were found in many areas of Northeastern Canada. The masks of the time period 900 to 1,100 AD showed European facial characteristics, with long noses and also head gear, such as those worn by the Vikings.
There was the transition period between the Pre-Dorset and the Dorset periods. At the transition, civilization took new distinct shape across Canada. At about 500 B. C, there was lpiutak art in Alaska. This type of art involved use of same line art with a range of semi human faces, animal representations and human faces in their horrible versions. It also involved markings which were either joint or skeletal.
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.
In more recent years, the artworks of Eskimos has changed. Different materials were used, but they still often represented nature. The Inuit artworks of the 1940's were often of larger sculptural forms.
During the 19th century, curved masks came into existence and these were used for varied rituals among the Eskimos. Even though we can trace back the history of modern art amongst the Eskimos to 1940s, we need to appreciate the support that Canadians have injected into this art. Today, this art features curved images that are made from soapstone, rough whalebone as well as ivory.
The Canadian Government recognizes the economic and cultural benefits of Eskimo and other isolated communities in the Arctic. It has encouraged preservation of both contemporary and historic Eskimo art.
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For some great examples of Eskimo art take a look at alaskanstonewoman.com. To learn all about the legend of the Alaskan Stone Woman go now to http://alaskanstonewoman.com.
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