{Cycladic art refers to an ancient artistic style of figures and decorations that were produced on the Cyclades, a collection of thirty tiny islands off the coast of Greece in the Aegan Sea.  The Cycladic culture thrived during the early Bronze age and its art work was quite distinct from any other culture of that time period.  Artistic expression is evident in many everyday objects from the Cycladic period including bottles, vases and pottery.  However, it is the interpretation and expression of the human form that is most closely associated with what we think of today as “Cycladic art.”

Fine, white marble was readily available on the Cyclade islands.  This afforded the Cycladic people with an exceptional medium with which to create figures and statues.  By far, it was the nude female form that inspired the artists of this period.  These idols were most often placed at burial sites and nearly always figures of women.  The exceptions tend to preserve images of men performing culturally important roles such as story teller, hunter, warrior or musician.  Animals and lifestock were also frequent subjects of Cycladic art.

The female nude was the dominant artistic inspiration;however, and a discovery of Cyladic art will like be of a female 19 times out of 20.  Unfortunately, no writing exists from the pre-literate Cycladic society to help explain the purpose of the idol figures.  Some scholars believe they were used in prayer rituals, suggesting that the slightly tilted head of the idols indicates supplication to the gods.  Others believe they may represent a “mother goddess” or priestess.

It was from 2800 BC to 2300 BC that Cycladic art was at its most prodigious, a period known as “Early Cycladic II.”  This period defined the “canonical Cycladic art” characterized by the nude female figures, knees bent slightly, arms folded below the chest and flat heads that were pointed upward.  A Cycladic figure ranged in size from statues about the size of a man to tiny figures no more than an inch tall. Remnants of azurite and cinnabar suggest that painint the idols was a common practice.

Many modern artists have taken inspiration from the ancient works of the Cyclades.  The simple geometric forms have inspired many of the most revered artists of the last century.  The influence can be seen in the work of Modigliani, especially his sculpture Female Head Statue, along with other modern artists including Picasso.  In some ways, these modern masters have misintepreted Cycladic art to a degree.  The Cyladic artists used paint and pigments to add jewelery, facial features, body paint and other decoration to their works in an attempt to more accurately approximate “real life.”  Time has worn away those artistic flourishes, leaving behind only the simple beauty of the Cycladic idols and the illusion of abstract simplicity.}