Final answer:
The bust of Queen Nefertiti by Thutmose showcases ancient Egyptian craftsmanship by using beautiful symmetry and creating a continuous line in its form. It represents the naturalistic Amarna art style, composed of limestone and plaster, and its current location in the Neues Museum in Berlin is subject to controversy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bust of Queen Nefertiti, created by the sculptor Thutmose during the Amarna period, is a renowned work of ancient Egyptian art. It demonstrates a high degree of craftsmanship with the limestone core having been meticulously modeled and then layered with stucco in areas that needed finer detailing. Dr. Steven Zucker from Smarthistory remarks on the beautiful symmetry of the sculpture and how the lines of Nefertiti's headdress and face create a perfect triangle, demonstrating the continuity of line and form from the top of her head to the base of her neck.
The Amarna style, under which the bust was created around 1340 BCE, marked a distinct break from the traditional idealized form of Egyptian art. This period characterized more naturalistic and individual features, departing from the rigid, stylized conventions seen in statues of past pharaohs and deities. Known to be made from limestone and plaster, the bust is full-color and life-size, housed in the Neues Museum in Berlin to this day, amidst controversies regarding its provenance and calls for its return to Egypt.