Statuette of a Striding Man in a Kilt

Art Historical Context

This charming wooden statuette depicts a striding man dressed in a simple kilt, capturing the vitality of ancient Egyptian life during the Early Middle Kingdom (ca.2030–1917 BC). Standing about 27 cm tall, it hails from a time when Egypt was reunifying after the turmoil of the First Intermediate, with pharaohs like Mentuhotep II ushering in a renaissance of art and culture. Such figures were often placed in tombs to serve the deceased eternally, embodying the ka—the life force—in dynamic motion. Crafted from wood—a perishable medium that rarely survives—the statuette was vividly painted and e...