Art is the creation of beautiful or thought-provoking works. Art went through a tremendous amount of development in ancient Greece from the archaic to the Hellenistic eras. Much of the development was due to the political and philosophical views of the time. Each era gave way for the changes in the following era.
             During the Archaic Period, there was a growing elevation of individualism. Individuality and uniqueness, virtually an awareness of self was the main issue in art and philosophy. In Archaic Greece there was increased prosperity and mobility, allowing for old ways of life to be overcome; people were more susceptible to "finding one's self." Poetry and sculpture show a more personal approach and attention to intellectual and personal detail. Personal feelings were reflected in art. In poetry, men and women's sexuality and feelings about sexuality were free territories to discuss, a practice that was uncommon prior to this period. Sculpture emerged as an acceptable form of artistic expression. There were magnificent statues of nude walking youths. Draped female sculptures from the archaic period suggest Middle Eastern influence. The philosophy at this time was moving away from religion and concentrated on the awareness of self, philosophy and art had a central focus of self. Archaic art is a silent witness to the extraordinary development western society was about to undertake.
             The art of the classical Greek style is characterized by a joyous freedom of expression and celebrates mankind as an independent entity. Artists of this period began to express the human figure in a more naturalistic manner. Their forms were more true to life, but they approached an ideal vision. Classical sculptures became natural. The sculptures completed the process begun by their archaic forbearers of mastering the accurate representation of the human body. Classical vase-painting often depicts heterosexual lovemaking with the mood lusty and expl...