Kneeling Archer

• Kneeling Archer from the Terracotta Army

  Approx. 210 BC

  Terracotta, 122cm tall

  Shaanxi Province, China
• Discovery

  • 1974 - local farmers discovered it in the Shaanxi provenance - trying to dig a well
  • found in fragments and required reconstruction
  • around 8000 warriors and 2000 excavated
  • originally a subterranean army - none of these figures were meant to be seen
• Qin Shi Huang

  • 259-210 BCE
  • first emperor of a unified China
  • many saw him as a tyrant other a visionary
  • standardised currency and made highways
  • ruled by control, fear and punishment
  • obsessed with death and becoming immortal so he commissioned an entire kingdom to accompany him to the next world to protect him in the afterlife
• Quin Shi Huang afterlife

  • age 13 commissioned his future tomb
  • known to be the largest burial site ever
  • 98km
  • as he was obsessed with the after life he made this to continue his rule
  • he needed soldiers = protect and fight for him
  • concern for human pop. meant people weren't sacrificed
  • site contained: palaces, living quarters ect. - enclosed with defensive walls and gates
• Attack on Terracotta Army

  • traces of fire confirm the looting and burning of the tomb by General Xiang Yu
  • he wanted to destroy and damage the soldiers to destroy the army in the afterlife - to defeat Huang
  • he stole most of the real weapons that were held and buried by the statues
• Format of Army

  • 4 underground pits
  • soldiers lined up in true military formation -> accordance to rank and duty
  • placed in channels
• Where is our warrior

  • Pit 2
  • along with 1400 cavalry and infantry
  • in a very orderly and structured complex -> reflects a hierarchical society
• Materials , techniques and processes - torso

  1. get clay and kept wit with clothes
  2. when coiling for the limbs - make sure clay is wet for adhesive
  3. make parts separately: head, torso, short tunic, arms, legs and hands
  4. all limbs are hollow + head
  5. attach limbs together
  6. carve the details - e.g. sharp bamboo sticks
  7. dried for at least 24hrs then put in kiln without any ventilation to prevent breakage
  8. polychromatic paint - using eggs as binder for pigment
• technique overall

  • additive process - modelled
  • by hand and moulds - combination
• scale

  • 700.000 craftsmen - likely convicts
  • 40 years to make
  • weight between 110-200 kilos
  • composite statues - made of multiple parts
  • brightly coloured = more lifelike - some remanets of pigments remain
• overall analysis of features of army

  • all individual features = though standardised features they're mostly individual
  • emperor wanted individual features
  • little emotion
  • different clothing in accordance to rank in army
  • different poses
  • all differences imply their roles, ranks and positions in army
• Visual Analysis of archer - limbs, head and bun

  • Head upright, noble – strong centre and feeling of strength through posture and linear nature of the archer
  • thick limbs – heavy and deliberate
  • simplified legs – not detailed anatomical features
  • angular
  • face symmetrical – the off centred bun offsets this
• Visual analysis of archer - pose

  • Dynamic pose – hand movement across body (left arm) , kneeling (kneeling on his right knee) – sense of readiness
  • one of the more dynamic figures in the terracotta army
  • determination, readiness – but not in motion
  • Springy back foot – readiness
  • head is turned to left
• Visual Analysis of archer - hair

  • short and tidy hair
  • typical to his rank
  • a single knot that’s just off-centre
  • Asian features of the time
• Visual Analysis of archer - face and idealised

  • Idealised features

  . possibly young

  • His face has been individualised but not necessarily that realistic – simplified and standardised areas
  • face is idealised - smoothed over

  . like the face – but the sleeves are wrinkled and more natural
• Visual Analysis of archer - armour

  • his armour and breast plate - particular detail to this
  • wearing body armour
  • overlapping pinned plates on chest and arms - not all body
  • the clay is possibly trying to emulate either leather or metal
  • joints = leather and plates = metal
  • ending of armour folds realistically
  • circles on sole of shoe - for grip = care for for detail
  • weight of fabric around arms = folds naturalistically
• detail n armour effect

  • detail on armour = emphasis on military, skill and craftsmanship
  • displays a powerful patron through immense task to create this
• visual analysis - gaze

  • alert and ready
  • expression is neutral and unfazed
• weapon

  • bronze/wooden crossbow missing from hands
  • stolen by General Xiang Yu or broken
• Inspired who....

  • Terracotta army - Anthony Gormley's instillation piece - 'Field'