DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0213
Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America
185
When the artist desires realistic truth he is quite able to attain it. This
is not often the case; generally the object of artistic work is decorative
and the representation follows the principles developed in decorative art.
When the form of the decorative field permits, the outline of the
animal form is retained. The size of the head is generally stressed
as against that of the body and
of the limbs. Eyes and eyebrows,
mouth and nose are given great
prominence. In almost all cases
the eyebrows have a standardized
form, analogous to that in which the
Indian likes to trim his own eye-
brows,— with a sharp edge on the
rim of the orbits, and a sharp angle
in the upper border, the brows being
widest at a point a little outward
from the center, tapering to the
outer and inner angles and ending
quite abruptly at both ends. The
eye is also standardized. In many
cases it consists of two outer curves
which indicate the borders of the
upper and lower eyelids. A large
inner circle represents the eyeball.
The lip lines are always distinct and border a mouth which is given
an extraordinary width. Generally the lips are opened wide enough
to show the teeth or the tongue. Cheeks and forehead are much
restricted in size. The trunk is not elaborated. The ears of animals
rise over the forehead (fig. 157). These are almost always applied in
reproductions of mammals and birds, while they are generally missing in
those of the whale, killer-whale, shark and often also of the sculpin.
The human ear is represented in its characteristic form, on a level
with the eye (figs. 207 and 209, pp. 217, 218). Whales and fish often
have round eyes, but exceptions occur (figs. 233, 234, 235, pp. 229—231).
Fig. 156. Carved head used in
ceremonial, Kwakiutl Indians.
185
When the artist desires realistic truth he is quite able to attain it. This
is not often the case; generally the object of artistic work is decorative
and the representation follows the principles developed in decorative art.
When the form of the decorative field permits, the outline of the
animal form is retained. The size of the head is generally stressed
as against that of the body and
of the limbs. Eyes and eyebrows,
mouth and nose are given great
prominence. In almost all cases
the eyebrows have a standardized
form, analogous to that in which the
Indian likes to trim his own eye-
brows,— with a sharp edge on the
rim of the orbits, and a sharp angle
in the upper border, the brows being
widest at a point a little outward
from the center, tapering to the
outer and inner angles and ending
quite abruptly at both ends. The
eye is also standardized. In many
cases it consists of two outer curves
which indicate the borders of the
upper and lower eyelids. A large
inner circle represents the eyeball.
The lip lines are always distinct and border a mouth which is given
an extraordinary width. Generally the lips are opened wide enough
to show the teeth or the tongue. Cheeks and forehead are much
restricted in size. The trunk is not elaborated. The ears of animals
rise over the forehead (fig. 157). These are almost always applied in
reproductions of mammals and birds, while they are generally missing in
those of the whale, killer-whale, shark and often also of the sculpin.
The human ear is represented in its characteristic form, on a level
with the eye (figs. 207 and 209, pp. 217, 218). Whales and fish often
have round eyes, but exceptions occur (figs. 233, 234, 235, pp. 229—231).
Fig. 156. Carved head used in
ceremonial, Kwakiutl Indians.