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We are not only talking about the pyramids, pharaohs, obelisks, and sarcophagi but the timeless elegance of the anthropomorphic lines and features used in ancient Egypt. An millennial Egyptian tradition that translates into a style that is neither ancient nor modern and that with its charm has inspired a multitude of architects, designers, and artists over the centuries.
The culture of this civilization has experienced a perpetual success that foreseen even in the near future: few days ago it was announced that in October 2021 the pyramid of Giza will be part of a contemporary art exhibition, the first project of this kind in 4300 years and will house a series of works by contemporary artist displayed along the path that circumnavigated the area.
"This exhibition is a sign of hope for humanity and a humble tribute to a civilization that stands the test of time," says Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D'Egypte, a society that aims to promote Egyptian art with annual exhibitions in historical places. The project involves the installation of a selected number of works along the tourist path that runs along the perimeter of the pyramids.
But the obsession for Ancient Egypt is a phenomenon that recurs in the Western world's artistic and cultural repertoire since the times of ancient Rome. The emperors, with Caesar as their leader, appropriated Pharaonic ruins and obelisks during their military campaigns and many centuries later these elements were rediscovered and installed in strategic places in the city of Rome by Renaissance artists of the caliber of Michelangelo. In the 18th century, we find another emperor, a French one this time, who fell in love with Egyptian culture to the point of transforming it into a court fashion, Napoleon.
General Bonaparte thought decided to take with him on one of his missions to Egypt, Dominique Vivant Denon (1747-1825), curator of the Museum Central des Arts - the future Louvre - who on his return published his travel notebook full of pharaonic motifs, hieroglyphic motifs, small obelisks, pyramids and all those elements that soon invaded the decorative arts in France to celebrate Napoleon's victories.
Throughout the 19th century, Egypt was involved in all forms of artistic creation: the opera Aida (work created for the opening of the Suez Canal), for example, but also academic art paintings such as Jean-Léon Gérôme's (1824-1904), neoclassical furniture, fireplaces with pilasters topped by pharaoh's heads and all decorative arts in general.
And if the 19th century is the century par excellence of Egyptomania, the last century is no less: during November 1922, in the midst of the domination of the Art Deco style, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb gave back to Egypt its celebrity. Its motives and patrons invaded the world of fashion and advertising, and later, the cinema of the 1950s revisited Egyptian codes and proposed an epic version. Famous, for example, is Cleopatra with the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, a huge Hollywood production, considered one of the most expensive films of all time.
