Final answer:
The Amarna Style of Akhenaten broke from traditional Egyptian art by depicting more naturalistic, less idealized human figures with feminine features, reflecting the monolithic worship of Aten and changing the rigid artistic conventions of nearly 3000 years. This period introduced new techniques and styles, such as sunken relief, and produced iconic artifacts like the Bust of Nefertiti, with its effects lasting even after its brief existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Amarna Style of Akhenaten represents a radical departure from traditional Egyptian art due to several distinctive features. One of the key changes was the move towards more naturalistic and less idealized representations of human figures, notably in the depiction of Akhenaten himself with pronounced feminine features such as wide hips and a protruding belly, which contrasts sharply with the previously athletic and youthful depictions of pharaohs.
This shift in artistic style coincided with Akhenaten's religious reforms where Egypt transitioned to monotheism, worshipping Aten, the sun disk. The Amarna Period also saw a change in the use of colors, depiction of overlapping figures, and the introduction of sunken relief in sculpture, marking it as a distinct era within the New Kingdom of Egypt.
This period was short-lived, ending with Akhenaten's death, but it signaled a significant shift from rectilinear to curvilinear forms, which was contrary to the consistency maintained in Egyptian art for nearly 3000 years. Notable works of art from this time include the Bust of Nefertiti and artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb. After Akhenaten's death, Egypt returned to its traditional religion and art style, but the unique approach to depicting the human form in this period had a lasting influence on Egyptian culture.