Terracotta with original paint coating. China, early Western Han dynasty (3rd to 2nd cent. BC)
From the tomb complex of the first Han emperor, Gaozu (206 – 195) or surrounding graves. The specimen at hand emphasizes the “defiance†of this subterranean soldier. Standing wide in heavy boots, straight upright body, a head with a cornered contour and a face flat like a table – a totally obedient, barely breathing human shell. He has stocky farmer’s hands. One is raised and presumably held a spear made of wood that degraded. The other hand casually hanging down possibly held a bow. The clothing (a skirt) shows absolutely no signs of armor; hence the depicted character is probably a man from a palace guard. Striking is the strict statutory and frontal orientation of the figure, incorporating the level look of the black painted-on pupils – a detached, yet almost hypnotic expression. The original paint coating partially survived and shows effective contrasting tones ranging from white to black, as well as occasional applications of red.強壯衛兵立åƒå½©ç¹ªé™¶ä¿‘。中國，西漢代，公元å‰3世紀至2世紀。高 47.5厘米。
HEIGHT 47,5 CM
From an Austrian collection