"Beauty that endures": Egyptian revival in the 1920s

Abstract

Just after Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb in Luxor, Egypt, references to ancient Egypt appeared in nearly every medium of expression: fashion, architecture, decorative arts, literature, theater and advertising. On the surface, the explosion in Egyptian-influenced material culture reflects the publicity received by the opening of Tutankhamen's tomb in major newspapers. Yet, through Egyptian imagery, Americans were able to engage issues concerning society in the 1920s: class disparity, faith, shaping one's identity, definitions of beauty, the role of women in modern society, and color politics in the African-American community. By looking to ancient Egypt, Americans sought something permanent to hold on to in an era of rapid change, as well as a place to escape to when the present became overwhelming. The gravitation to an exotic location and a place that seemed unchangeable suggests that there was a fundamental uncertainty underlying American culture in the twenties.