greek vase painting

Greek Vase Painting

In modern society, Greek pottery is considered an art which is regarded as much for its aesthetic splendor as its historical significance. However, the role of pottery in ancient Greek culture was far more functional as its primary use was for the transportation and storage of such liquids as water and wine (Encyclopedia Britannica). Due to the durability of the fired clay material, Greek pottery is the only remaining art form that allows us to explore the evolution of this ancient culture. Through that examination, three distinct stylistic periods have been unveiled: Geometric, Orientalizing and Archaic. This analysis will detail these distinct periods as well as three design techniques prevalently used: black figure, red figure and white ground

The first definable period of Greek pottery, Geometric (c. 900-700 BCE), accounts for the majority of ancient vase painting still in existence today; and as such, affords us the broadest view into this art form. The period attributes its name to the geometric forms that artists used to detail their vessels. The primary decorative motifs that distinguish the period include parallel lines, concentric

(Metropolitan Museum of Art)

rituals as depicted in this Krater from 750 BCE which is characteristic of this era.

The primary scene that occupies the widest portion of this particular vase depicts

a deceased body placed on its side on a funeral bier surrounded by family

members and mourners. The secondary zone below details a procession of

horse drawn chariots and soldiers carrying hourglass shields. The illustration of

people and animals is both abstract and two-dimensional as artists of the

Geometric era regularly used triangular torsos and long thin arms and legs

(Stokstad, 160).

The second distinct period which originated in Corinth in 700 BCE and spanned one hundred years is now known as the Orientalizing period. This period gets its name from the introduction of Egyptian and Eastern influences on Greek pottery during this time. The impact of foreign styles lead to the introduction of the black-figure technique that has come to epitomize the era. In Black-figure painting, figures and ornaments were drawn in silhouette on the natural clay surface of the vase ...

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...des us with a glimpse into the ancient culture using beautiful and detailed designs. The art form has been sustained in fired clay for thousands of years indiscriminately telling its story to the world and to history.

Bibliography

1.Chamoux, Francois. The Pallas Library of Art: Greek Art. Greenwich, New York.

Graphic Society. 1966.

2. Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. New York, New York. Harry Abrams, Inc. 2002.

3. “Black Figure.” http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/CGPrograms/Dict/ASP/OpenDictionary.asp?name black-figure.html 10 November 2004.

4. “Red Figure.” http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/CGPrograms/Dict/ASP/OpenDictionary.asp?namered- figure.html

10 November 2004.

5. “Orientalizing.” http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/Pottery/Lecture1/Script/GreekPaintedPottery1.asp

30 September 2004.

6. “Greek Pottery.” http://www.search.eb.com/search?query=pottery&ct=eb 11 November 2004.

7. “Greek and Roman Art.” http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/viewHigh.asp?dep=13&full=0&set=3 11 November 2004.