Kritios: The Dawn of Naturalism in Greek Sculpture Kritios, a sculptor hailing from Athens during the early 5th century BCE, stands as a pivotal figure in the transition between the Archaic and Classical periods of ancient Greek art. Often referred to as Kritios or the “Kritian Boy,” he’s celebrated not for grand monuments but for a revolutionary shift in artistic representation – a move towards naturalism and dynamic movement that profoundly influenced generations of sculptors. Born in Athens, his life remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, though we know him primarily through inscriptions o…