by Mary Beougher

Created on: September 10, 2010

If there is one thing that people think of when talking about Greek art, it is vase painting. Well over 100,000 pieces exist and they have considerable influence on how we see Greek society and they are also the best way we have to trace the development of Greek art, since very little Greek painting has survived to modern day. When examining Greek vase painting, there are five distinct periods each with their own techniques and styles.

The first is the Protogeometrical period spanning from c.1050 – 900 BCE following what is known as the Greek dark ages. During this time most vases are rendered with circles, triangles, wavy lines and arcs that have been done with a compass and multiple brush with a deliberateness not seen before. The production of these pieces appeared to begin in Attica, followed by Boeotia, Corinth, and the Cyclades and Ionian colonies in the east Aegean.

The Geometric period followed during the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. The development of new motifs such as meanders and other geometric designs that are distinctly different from the previous circular style characterize this movement. The best examples we have are from grave goods. From 900 – 850 BCE, the motifs were abstract and there was an extensive use of black varnish, resulting in a style called Black Dipylon. Following this, during 850 – 770 BCE, came a rise in figurative decoration starting with identical bands of animals alternating with geometrical bands. Greek vase painting became increasingly ornate during this time and there was a definite “horror vacui” or fear of empty spaces that did not cease until the end of the geometric period. In the mid-century human figures start to appear mostly in funerary scenes and shown without perspective. By the end of this period, scenes and representation of Greek mythology begins to appear on the pottery.

Next came the Orientalizing Style (8th and 7th centuries BCE), spurred by cultural exchange in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and trade links with Asia Minor city states. Goods from Syria and Phoenicia, Anatolian Urartu and Phrygia made their way into areas of Greece. This style was initially developed in Corinth and was marked by expanded motifs. Griffins, sphinx, lions and other new non-mythological animals began to appear in friezes on the belly of the vase. Human figures were still relatively rare. When the technique arrived in Athens, there was a decrease in the eastern influence and line drawing replaced

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>