Final answer:
The artwork in question is a relief from an Egyptian tomb, specifically from the Amarna Period during the New Kingdom. It represents the radical changes in art and introduces the Amarna style, which includes less idealized and more realistic figures, connected to the religious reforms of Akhenaten.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relief with Akhenaten and Nefertiti, from the New Kingdom circa 1640 - 1070 BCE, is part of the rich legacy of Amarna Art that flourished during the Amarna Period. The direct answer to the student's question is that this artwork is a b) relief from an Egyptian tomb. During Akhenaten's reign in the 18th Dynasty, Egyptian art underwent a significant transformation, leading to the distinctive Amarna style. This era is marked by a radical stylistic shift that was influenced by Akhenaten's religious reforms, which established a monotheistic worship of Aten.
Amarna artwork like the relief of Akhenaten and Nefertiti is noted for its departure from the idealized forms of earlier Egyptian art. Figures are portrayed with elongated and slender limbs, and more realistic facial features such as pronounced chins and sloped foreheads. Particularly, Akhenaten's depictions often show him with a slender physique and an emphasis on more 'feminine' qualities compared to the idealized male figure of previous times. This artistic period also produced iconic artifacts like the Bust of Nefertiti and the treasures found in Tutankhamun's tomb, contributing to our understanding of the aesthetic and cultural shifts during this period in Egyptian history.