Greek Ceramics and Vase Painting
Pre-Greek Minoan Minoan culture was located on Crete Lasted appr. 3100 BCE – 1100 BCE Two main types of pottery: Marine and Kamare
Marineware -Sea life imagery -Organic lines Kamare -Geometric line -Repetition Marineware -Sea life imagery -Organic lines
Geometric (900-650 BCE) Largely found on funerary urns Imagery divided into tiers or layers Figures represented by basic geometric forms
Archaic (600-480 BCE) Less emphasis on surrounding motifs Focus on larger central figures Often tell a mythological or historical narrative Exekias. The Suicide Of Ajax.
Black Figure Painting The natural reddish color of the ceramics acts as a background. Black is slip is applied to create imagery, then is carefully engraved away for details and fine lines.
Red Figure Painting Red figure painting used slip to fill the background negative space. Details could then be painted on the figures with a fine brush. This allowed for much finer control of lines.
Red Figure Black Figure
Amphora: 2 handled. Used for transporting oils and wines Krater: Wide shape. Water and wine were mixed in before drinking. “Punch bowl” Hydria: 3 handles. Used for carrying and pouring water. Kylix and Kantharos: drinking cups Loutrophorus: Water container for wedding and funeral rituals Lebes Gamikos: Water container for wedding ceremonies
Kylix Kantharos Calyx Krater Volute Krater