Gilles Deleuze's Philosophy Reframes Egyptian Art as a Triumph of the Crystal
In his 1981 Lectures on Painting, French philosopher Gilles Deleuze offered a perspective on ancient Egyptian art, interpreting its flatness and rigidity as intentional strategies. He categorized Egyptian art as the mold, Greek art as the model, and highlighted artists such as Van Gogh to illustrate modulation. Deleuze likened mummification to the way Egyptian art captures essences over time and introduced the concept of hapticity, which relates to tactile perception. He contended that Egyptian artists achieved likeness through unconventional methods, utilizing monochromatic colors and stiff profiles. His insights also encompassed modern artists like Francis Bacon and Turner, positioning contemporary art as modulation in contrast to the enduring nature of Egyptian art.
Key facts
- Gilles Deleuze was a late twentieth-century French philosopher who delivered Lectures on Painting in 1981.
- Deleuze introduced the concepts of mold, model, and modulation, borrowing from French philosopher Simondon.
- Egyptian art represents the pole of the mold, while Van Gogh exemplifies modulation.
- Deleuze used the metaphor of mummification to describe Egyptian art's preservation of essences.
- The term hapticity derives from the Greek word for touch and describes a way of looking that behaves like touching.
- Deleuze called Egyptian art a signal-space defined by the contour, which shelters essences from dissipation.
- Deleuze applied the same vocabulary to modern painters including Francis Bacon, Turner, and Rubens.
- Deleuze characterized the contemporary era as one of modulation, driven by speed and reinvention.
Entities
Artists
- Gilles Deleuze
- Buffon
- Simondon
- Van Gogh
- Francis Bacon
- Turner
- Rubens
Institutions
Locations
- Egypt
- Greece