James, T.G.H. Egyptian Painting and Drawing in the British Museum. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard Univesity Press, 1986.
This book is smaller in size (only 70 pages) compared to the other books I've read for my study. Although this book is small, it is concise and through on the techniques and characteristics of Egyptian painting and drawing.
The author begins by explaining the need for the Egyptians to paint. He relates the rich color of the land of Egypt as being influential in the bold color used by the Ancient Egyptian artist. The Egyptian form of writing in glyphs also influenced the need to paint. This style of writing was the only method of written communication for the Egyptian. Writing and painting were the same. The scribe and the artist were the same.
He disspels the myth that painting only took place for the Pharoah and the wealthy. Painting, he claims, existed on all levels of Egyptian society. There are many more examples in the tombs than elsewhere due to the stability of the structures the art was completed in. Many of the structures that the common people lived in were made of mud-brick and could not withstand time like the solid-rock tombs and temples of the gods, pharoahs, and wealthy.
The following chapter covers the materials and techniques of the Egyptian artist. James emphasizes the anonymity of the artist as a common craftsman. He states,
The extrodinary thing about painting in ancient Egypt is that there was no distinct word, as far as is known, for 'painter' or 'artist'. The term used to describe the craftsman who marked out the preliminary drawings on the wall was 'outline scribe', and the important element here is 'scribe'. The scribe was essentially the man who could write or perhaps more specifically, who could use a brush (his basic piece of equipment) to write or draw.
The scribe was taught to write and read. Those who showed talent with the brush became outline scribes. Not only were the artists trained to use the brush with skill, they also needed a firm background in reading and writing to do their job effectively.