🎨Art History I – Prehistory to Middle Ages Unit 9 – Greek Art: Geometric & Archaic Eras

Historical Context and Timeline

• Greek art emerged following the Dark Ages, a period of cultural decline after the fall of the Mycenaean civilization (c. 1100 BCE)
• The Geometric period (c. 900-700 BCE) marked the beginning of a new era in Greek art
  • Characterized by geometric patterns and stylized human and animal figures
  • Coincided with the rise of the Greek city-states and increased trade
• The Archaic period (c. 700-480 BCE) saw further developments in Greek art
  • Influenced by contact with the Near East and Egypt through trade and colonization
  • Marked by the emergence of monumental sculpture and the development of the orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian)
• The Persian Wars (490-479 BCE) had a significant impact on Greek art and culture
  • The Greek victory over the Persians led to a surge in confidence and a flourishing of the arts
  • The Athenian Acropolis was rebuilt and decorated with sculptures and temples during this time

Key Characteristics of Greek Art

• Idealization of the human form, with an emphasis on proportion, balance, and harmony
• Representation of mythological themes and religious subjects
• Use of contrapposto, a pose where the weight is shifted to one leg, creating a more natural and dynamic stance
• Development of the orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian), each with distinct proportions and decorative elements
• Incorporation of narrative scenes and continuous friezes in sculpture and painting
• Emphasis on the relationship between art and mathematics, as seen in the use of golden ratio and other proportional systems
• Evolution from stylized, abstract forms to more naturalistic and lifelike representations over time

Geometric Period: Style and Innovations

• Geometric art is characterized by its use of geometric patterns, such as meanders, zigzags, and concentric circles
• Human and animal figures are highly stylized and flat, often composed of triangular shapes
• Pottery is the most common form of art from this period, with large vessels used for storage and as grave markers
  • Dipylon Amphora (c. 750 BCE) is a famous example, featuring a funeral scene with mourners and chariots
• Bronze figurines, such as the Geometric Bronzes from Olympia, depict humans and animals in a highly stylized manner
• The introduction of the alphabetic script in the 8th century BCE allowed for the inclusion of inscriptions on pottery and other objects
• The Geometric period saw the emergence of the Greek city-states and the development of a distinct Greek identity

Archaic Period: Artistic Developments

• The Archaic period witnessed a gradual shift towards more naturalistic representations of the human form
• Kouroi (male) and Korai (female) statues became prevalent, depicting idealized youths with stylized features and stiff, frontal poses
  • The Kroisos Kouros (c. 530 BCE) is a well-known example, showing the characteristic "archaic smile" and detailed musculature
• The development of the orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) led to the construction of monumental temples
  • The Temple of Hera at Olympia (c. 600 BCE) is an early example of the Doric order
• Black-figure pottery, featuring black silhouettes on a red background, became popular during this period
  • The François Vase (c. 570 BCE) is a masterpiece of black-figure pottery, depicting various mythological scenes
• Red-figure pottery, with red figures on a black background, emerged in the late 6th century BCE, allowing for greater detail and expression
  • The Berlin Painter and the Kleophrades Painter were renowned red-figure pottery artists

Influential Artists and Works

• Sculptors:
  • Kritios and Nesiotes, known for the Kritios Boy (c. 480 BCE), which marks a transition towards more naturalistic sculpture
  • Antenor, creator of the original bronze statues of the Tyrannicides (c. 510 BCE), depicting the assassins of the Athenian tyrant Hipparchus
• Painters:
  • Kleitias, the painter of the François Vase (c. 570 BCE), a masterpiece of black-figure pottery
  • Exekias, a renowned black-figure potter and painter, known for works such as the Dionysus Cup (c. 540 BCE)
  • The Berlin Painter and the Kleophrades Painter, both masters of the red-figure technique
• Architects:
  • Chersiphron and Metagenes, architects of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (c. 550 BCE), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
  • Spintharus, architect of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi (c. 510 BCE)

Materials and Techniques

• Sculpture:
  • Marble, especially from the islands of Paros and Naxos, was the primary material for large-scale sculpture
  • Bronze was used for smaller figurines and decorative elements, often created using the lost-wax casting technique
  • Chryselephantine sculpture, combining gold and ivory, was reserved for the most important cult statues, such as the Athena Parthenos by Phidias (c. 447-438 BCE)
• Pottery:
  • Clay was the primary material, with different techniques used for decoration (incision, added clay, paint)
  • Black-figure technique involved painting figures in black slip on a red clay background, with details incised through the slip
  • Red-figure technique reversed this process, with figures left in red and the background painted black
• Architecture:
  • Limestone and marble were the primary building materials for temples and other monumental structures
  • Wooden roof beams and terracotta tiles were used for roofing
  • The orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) dictated the proportions and decorative elements of columns and entablatures

Cultural and Religious Significance

• Greek art was closely tied to religion, with many works depicting gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes
  • The Parthenon frieze (c. 443-438 BCE) depicts the Panathenaic procession, a festival in honor of Athena
• Temples served as homes for the cult statues of deities and as repositories for offerings
  • The Parthenon (c. 447-432 BCE) housed the monumental chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos
• Artistic production was often linked to important religious festivals and athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games
  • Victory statues, such as the Charioteer of Delphi (c. 478-474 BCE), commemorated athletic triumphs
• Art played a role in funerary practices, with grave markers and offerings depicting the deceased and scenes of mourning
  • The Dipylon Amphora (c. 750 BCE) is a prime example of a Geometric funerary vessel
• The development of Greek art reflected the increasing wealth and power of the city-states, as well as their cultural and political rivalries

Legacy and Influence on Later Art

• Greek art had a profound influence on the art of the Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE), which saw a spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world following the conquests of Alexander the Great
• Roman art heavily drew upon Greek models, often copying and adapting famous works
  • The Apollo Belvedere (c. 120-140 CE) is a Roman marble copy of a lost Greek bronze original
• The rediscovery of Greek art during the Renaissance had a significant impact on artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael
  • Michelangelo's David (1501-1504) draws upon the tradition of the Greek kouros
• Neoclassicism in the 18th and 19th centuries was inspired by the ideals and aesthetics of Greek art
  • Jacques-Louis David's Oath of the Horatii (1784) exemplifies the Neoclassical style
• Modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, have also found inspiration in the simplified forms and stylized figures of Greek art, particularly from the Geometric and Archaic periods