The “Coffin of Isetweret,” created by an artist from Ancient Egypt during the period circa 400 – circa 250 BC, is an exemplary work of Late Period Egyptian art. This piece, crafted from wood, paint, and gesso, belongs to the portrait and symbolic painting genre. It is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork features a beautifully intricate wooden coffin adorned with painted and gesso decorations. It is notable for its detailed symbolic representations, which are characteristic of Egyptian funerary art. The exterior of the coffin is covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions and vibrant depictions of various deities and religious symbols, encapsulating significant aspects of Egyptian beliefs regarding the afterlife. The figure’s face exhibits a serene and dignified expression, rendered in a manner consistent with traditional Egyptian portraiture. The overall form and decoration of the coffin underscore its function as both a protective vessel for the deceased and a testament to their status and connection to the divine.
