Egyptian Treatment of Birds (from painted Mummy Cases, British Museum)
Something of the same kind of quality is found in Japanese drawings of birds, with less severity and monumental feeling. The graphic or naturalistic feeling is strongest and the individual accidents are dwelt upon. In modern European natural history drawings of birds and animals, we often lose this bold graphic sense of character in the general aspect, while small superficial details of plumage and textures are carefully attended to. There is often less life though actually more likeness. The general tendency in the development of the art of a people seems to have been from the formal, monumental, and symbolic type of representation and design in strict relation to architectural structure and decoration, towards freer naturalism, individual portraiture, and a looser graphic style.
A FOWLER. WALL PAINTING. NINETEENTH DYNASTY (BRITISH MUSEUM).
We may trace this tendency even in the strictly monumental and stereotyped art of ancient Egypt, which notably in the portrait sculpture even of the ancient empire is remarkable for extraordinary realism; and in the wall paintings of the later period of the Theban empire (as in the tomb of Beni Hasan), which show considerable freedom and vitality.
JAPANESE GRAPHIC ART. FROM "THE HUNDRED BIRDS OF BARI."
JAPANESE GRAPHIC ART. FROM "THE HUNDRED BIRDS OF BARI."