Minoan art is remarkable for the time. It is naturalistic, quite different from the stiff stereotypes of Egyptian art for example. The smooth lines, vibrant colors, and sense of nature make Minoan art a pleasure for today's art lovers. Minoan artists broke away from the two-dimensional figures of Egyptian art and created three-dimensional figures. The frescoes are art of exceptional beauty and their fluidity makes the figures dynamic. The easy pleasure-loving lifestyle that comes across in their art is consistent with a level of luxury and sophistication unknown elsewhere in the western world at the time. The Minoan civilization rivaled that of Egypt.