by Artist (55)
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Aten
Artist: Terry Adkins (1953 – 2014) Primary
Date:
2013
21st century
Dimensions:
36 x 24 in. (914.4 x 609.6 mm)
Object Type:
Print
Creation Place:
North America, United States
Medium and Support:
Offset Lithograph
Edition Size:
40
Credit Line:
Partial gift of the Brandywine Workshop and Archives and Museum Purchase with funds from the Black Art Fund, 2023.
Accession Number:
2023.08.01
This work is not currently on view
"Terry Adkins made Aten at Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Philadelphia. It features an x-ray of the mummified head of ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamun and is printed with a specific blue ink called "mummy blue." Now, mummy blue ink can be made synthetically, but the color was first created by grinding the mummified remains of humans for pigments.
Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) ruled Egypt from c. 1353 to 1336 BCE and introduced radical political and religious changes. Early in his reign, he changed his name to Akhenaton, meaning "spirit of the Aton (sun disc)." Akhenaton was opposed to the powerful priesthood of the Theban god Amun (or Amon), who was the patron deity of ancient Egypt's18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BCE) kings. Instead, Akhenaten promulgated Aton/Aten, crediting the sun disc as the only source of life and positioning the king (pharaoh) as the sole mediator between this all-powerful god and the people of Egypt. The Aten religion made the king central and unique, rather than a servant of the god, and broke the power of the priests."
—From Brandywine Workshop and Archives records
Please note that this work contains images of human remains.
Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) ruled Egypt from c. 1353 to 1336 BCE and introduced radical political and religious changes. Early in his reign, he changed his name to Akhenaton, meaning "spirit of the Aton (sun disc)." Akhenaton was opposed to the powerful priesthood of the Theban god Amun (or Amon), who was the patron deity of ancient Egypt's18th Dynasty (1550–1292 BCE) kings. Instead, Akhenaten promulgated Aton/Aten, crediting the sun disc as the only source of life and positioning the king (pharaoh) as the sole mediator between this all-powerful god and the people of Egypt. The Aten religion made the king central and unique, rather than a servant of the god, and broke the power of the priests."
—From Brandywine Workshop and Archives records
Please note that this work contains images of human remains.
Keywords
Click a term to view other artwork with the same keyword
Black Art Fund
FUAM's Black Art Fund is a fundraising initiative to support the acquisition of artwork by contemporary Black artists, to address a major gap in the museum’s permanent collection. The museum is accepts both financial contributions to this fund to be used for purchases of artwork as well as donations of museum quality artworks to achieve greater representation and recognition of non-white artists and artworks.
FUAM's Black Art Fund is a fundraising initiative to support the acquisition of artwork by contemporary Black artists, to address a major gap in the museum’s permanent collection. The museum is accepts both financial contributions to this fund to be used for purchases of artwork as well as donations of museum quality artworks to achieve greater representation and recognition of non-white artists and artworks.
Egyptian
Refers to the styles and culture that developed in antiquity in the Nile Valley in the area of modern-day Egypt and southwards. For the cultures and styles of the modern nation of Egypt, use "Egypt (modern)."
Refers to the styles and culture that developed in antiquity in the Nile Valley in the area of modern-day Egypt and southwards. For the cultures and styles of the modern nation of Egypt, use "Egypt (modern)."
prints
Pictorial works produced by transferring images by means of a matrix such as a plate, block, or screen, using any of various printing processes. When emphasizing the individual printed image, use "impressions." Avoid the controversial expression "original prints," except in reference to discussions of the expression's use. If prints are neither "reproductive prints" nor "popular prints," use the simple term "prints." With regard to photographs, prefer "photographic prints"; for types of reproductions of technical drawings and documents, see terms found under "reprographic copies."
Pictorial works produced by transferring images by means of a matrix such as a plate, block, or screen, using any of various printing processes. When emphasizing the individual printed image, use "impressions." Avoid the controversial expression "original prints," except in reference to discussions of the expression's use. If prints are neither "reproductive prints" nor "popular prints," use the simple term "prints." With regard to photographs, prefer "photographic prints"; for types of reproductions of technical drawings and documents, see terms found under "reprographic copies."
color lithographs
Lithographs printed in several colors.
Lithographs printed in several colors.
lithographs
Prints made using the process of lithography, which is a planographic printing process in which a design is deposited on the stone or plate with a greasy substance which will accept ink.
Prints made using the process of lithography, which is a planographic printing process in which a design is deposited on the stone or plate with a greasy substance which will accept ink.
offset lithographs
Prints made using the process of offset lithography.
Prints made using the process of offset lithography.
New Kingdom
Refers to the last of three great periods of Egyptian civilization from about 1540 to 1075 BCE comprising the Eighteenth Dynasty through the Twentieth Dynasty. The period is characterized by a flowering of the arts including the introduction of colossal statues, a new interest in painting, a high degree of craftsmanship in both royal and private sculpture, and elegant decorative and luxury arts. Notable architectural works include chapels, rock-cut tombs, and monumental stone temples for worship of the gods attesting to the rising power of the priesthood. A brief revolutionary episode especially in representational art occurred during the reign of Akhenaten in the Amarna period when many existing conventions were reversed and more freedom of expression was allowed.
Refers to the last of three great periods of Egyptian civilization from about 1540 to 1075 BCE comprising the Eighteenth Dynasty through the Twentieth Dynasty. The period is characterized by a flowering of the arts including the introduction of colossal statues, a new interest in painting, a high degree of craftsmanship in both royal and private sculpture, and elegant decorative and luxury arts. Notable architectural works include chapels, rock-cut tombs, and monumental stone temples for worship of the gods attesting to the rising power of the priesthood. A brief revolutionary episode especially in representational art occurred during the reign of Akhenaten in the Amarna period when many existing conventions were reversed and more freedom of expression was allowed.
Egyptian Revival
Refers to the style in American and European architecture and decorative arts dating between the late 18th and early 19th centuries and influenced by publications about Egypt and Napoleon's military campaigns. It is characterized by the use of Egyptian forms and motifs including obelisks, pyramids, hieroglyphs, winged solar discs, sphinxes, papyrus, and lotus buds.
Refers to the style in American and European architecture and decorative arts dating between the late 18th and early 19th centuries and influenced by publications about Egypt and Napoleon's military campaigns. It is characterized by the use of Egyptian forms and motifs including obelisks, pyramids, hieroglyphs, winged solar discs, sphinxes, papyrus, and lotus buds.
mummies
Refers the bodies of human beings, or sometimes of animals, that have been embalmed, naturally preserved, or treated for burial with preservatives. Among the many peoples who practiced mummification were the people living along the Torres Strait between Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Incas of South America, and the Chinese. Prominent examples were created by the ancient Egyptians. The process varied from age to age in Egypt, but it always involved removing the internal organs (though in a late period they were replaced after treatment), treating the body with resin, and wrapping it in linen bandages.
Refers the bodies of human beings, or sometimes of animals, that have been embalmed, naturally preserved, or treated for burial with preservatives. Among the many peoples who practiced mummification were the people living along the Torres Strait between Papua New Guinea and Australia, the Incas of South America, and the Chinese. Prominent examples were created by the ancient Egyptians. The process varied from age to age in Egypt, but it always involved removing the internal organs (though in a late period they were replaced after treatment), treating the body with resin, and wrapping it in linen bandages.
human remains
The body or bodies of a deceased person or people, in whole or in parts, regardless of the stage of decomposition or preservation.
The body or bodies of a deceased person or people, in whole or in parts, regardless of the stage of decomposition or preservation.
Portfolio List
This object is a member of the following portfolios:
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