Egyptian civilization formed in northern Africa along the banks of the Nile River over six thousand years ago. The region\u2019s artists and artisans were highly trained in a visual vocabulary that endured for thousands of years\u2014and which continues to influence artistic and architectural forms to this day. Although these ancient artists rarely signed their work, their talents were highly regarded, as evidenced by the images on the walls of many tombs depicting artists and craftsmen sculpting and polishing statues, producing intricate jewelry, and carving wooden furniture, among other artistic pursuits. The artworks they produced served a range of functions\u2014given as gifts to their gods as acts of worship, placed in tombs to aid the dead in the afterlife, and used in daily life.<\/p>
Draftsmen, sculptors, and painters usually worked in teams attached to the royal court or one of Egypt\u2019s many temples. They sometimes lived in distinct workmen\u2019s villages, such as Deir el-Medina in modern Luxor, likely where a skilled artist produced the Sketch of a King<\/em><\/a>, the Art Institute's oldest drawing. These teams used a system of proportion and style that gave ancient Egyptian art its iconic look, but also allowed for innovation and the creation of exceptional works.<\/p>