The artistic culture of the Eskimo people dates back around 4,000 year in parts of Canada. This form of traditional art consisted mainly of small objects like tools and weapons. It also features small miniature-size animals curved out of ivory, stones and huge bones. The elements of inspiration for Eskimo art reflected the lifestyle they embraced as fishermen and hunters, together with their vast mythology.
The first of the Eskimos were believed to have been the 'Arctic small-tool tradition', inhabiting the most northern and arctic parts of America about 2,000 years BC. The arctic residents of this early age made tools from stone with sharp edges for cutting purposes. Some time later the pre-Dorset culture developed on one side of the region, while the other side was inhabited by smaller, independent cultural groups.
The Pre-Dorset culture was in 2,500 BC in areas of Northwestern Canada and parts of Western Greenland. Small tools were still common in this period just like in earlier years. The Pre-Dorset period evolved to become the Dorset Nation. This was around 500 BC and in this period, art started having a distinct impact in society, with common materials such as bones, ivory and stones. The most common was figurative art, which involved production of art like masks and sculptures.
Next was the Dorset period which was more in Northeastern Canada. This was between 900 and 1,100 AD where Greenland hosted Vikings first at the south before they moved to Iceland. It has been reported by historians that the masks produced during the period reflected the relationship between the Eskimos and the Vikings since they featured European faces which showed long noses, hats which is a characteristic of the Vikings.
Different communities were also present in Canada during the change-over period from the pre-Dorset to Dorset time, such as the Ipiutak people about 500 BC. Their forms of art portrayed half-human faces, more beastly-like faces of man and some animal works. Included as well were some of skeletons.
Out of all animals, wild and domesticated, to have dominated majority of sculpture type and motif art work among this type, the polar bear has been the most common form of inspiration. It has unified culture and given a sense of understanding towards historical culture.
The historic and modern eras have seen diversity among this form of art, inspired by nature, necessity and creativity. Introduction of textiles within the Inuit form of art around the 1940's saw life-size sculptures come into play and art among the Eskimo took a different root.
Masks were still common in the nineteenth century, but they were curved, and used in various rituals. There were contemporary artworks as well, mostly of curved figures made out of ivory and soapstone, as well as coarser whale bones. In the 1940's, Canadians also encouraged the skills of the native artists.
The Canadian Government recognizes the economic and cultural benefits of Eskimo and other isolated communities in the Arctic. It has encouraged preservation of both contemporary and historic Eskimo art.
The first of the Eskimos were believed to have been the 'Arctic small-tool tradition', inhabiting the most northern and arctic parts of America about 2,000 years BC. The arctic residents of this early age made tools from stone with sharp edges for cutting purposes. Some time later the pre-Dorset culture developed on one side of the region, while the other side was inhabited by smaller, independent cultural groups.
The Pre-Dorset culture was in 2,500 BC in areas of Northwestern Canada and parts of Western Greenland. Small tools were still common in this period just like in earlier years. The Pre-Dorset period evolved to become the Dorset Nation. This was around 500 BC and in this period, art started having a distinct impact in society, with common materials such as bones, ivory and stones. The most common was figurative art, which involved production of art like masks and sculptures.
Next was the Dorset period which was more in Northeastern Canada. This was between 900 and 1,100 AD where Greenland hosted Vikings first at the south before they moved to Iceland. It has been reported by historians that the masks produced during the period reflected the relationship between the Eskimos and the Vikings since they featured European faces which showed long noses, hats which is a characteristic of the Vikings.
Different communities were also present in Canada during the change-over period from the pre-Dorset to Dorset time, such as the Ipiutak people about 500 BC. Their forms of art portrayed half-human faces, more beastly-like faces of man and some animal works. Included as well were some of skeletons.
Out of all animals, wild and domesticated, to have dominated majority of sculpture type and motif art work among this type, the polar bear has been the most common form of inspiration. It has unified culture and given a sense of understanding towards historical culture.
The historic and modern eras have seen diversity among this form of art, inspired by nature, necessity and creativity. Introduction of textiles within the Inuit form of art around the 1940's saw life-size sculptures come into play and art among the Eskimo took a different root.
Masks were still common in the nineteenth century, but they were curved, and used in various rituals. There were contemporary artworks as well, mostly of curved figures made out of ivory and soapstone, as well as coarser whale bones. In the 1940's, Canadians also encouraged the skills of the native artists.
The Canadian Government recognizes the economic and cultural benefits of Eskimo and other isolated communities in the Arctic. It has encouraged preservation of both contemporary and historic Eskimo art.
