During the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1069 BCE)—an era characterized by unmatched imperial expansion, immense wealth, and the reigns of iconic rulers like Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, and Ramesses II—ancient Egyptian sculpture reached its artistic zenith. Operating within a highly organized, state-sponsored system, New Kingdom artisans moved away from the rigid, strictly traditional forms of earlier dynasties. They embraced fluid lines, psychological depth, and technological innovations in metallurgy and st