Selina Jiang, Period 1, 11/16/2023

Selina Jiang

Period 1

11/16/23

Modern Mythology 2024


Research Paper: Greek Art


We have recently discussed the statue of Medusa holding the decapitated head of Perseus. Ms. Fusaro mentioned the idea of how Greek artwork and sculptures have evolved to be more visually pleasing than terrifying as time went on. This was interesting especially when Natalie Haynes mentioned how some art pieces that are more recent portrayed Medusa as feminine and with beautiful locks of hair when she’s a gorgon. So, I decided to research about the timeline of Ancient Greek Art specifically how each period improved art.


There are different periods and the first is the Geometric period which lasted from approximately 900 to 700 BCE. The Geometric period is usually split into three parts, the Early Geometric (900-850BCE), Middle Geometric (850-760BCE), and Late Geometric (760-700 BCE). The period is named after the geometric patterns that were prevalent in pottery from this time. This meant that the human figures depicted were not realistic at all and usually had abstract features. Painted pottery seems to be the predominant form of art during this period, however, a most of the vases and pottery were found in cemeteries or burial contexts. There were two prominent types: kraters and amphorae. The two types usually had a slim neck and widened center with two handles on the side. Kraters were used to decorate male graves while amphorae decorated female graves. One defining feature of Geometric Period pottery is called horror vacui which means fear of empty space where the entire surface is filled with patterns and details.


The next is the Archaic Period(700-480 BC) where there was an increase in interaction between the Greeks and the surrounding areas of the Mediterranean due to trade and communication internationally. The geometric shapes from the period became more like human figures and natural elements. There were a lot more details in terms of human proportions and anatomy. This is where naturalized sculptures, Kouroi, showed up. Kouroi are lifelike statues that represent young men in their prime, of course, there is a less famous clothed female version of the statue called the kore. Since the Archaic Period came right after the Geometric Period, a lot of the pieces of art still have geometric shapes. For example, the Kouroi usually stand upright with broad shoulders, slim hips with arms on the side, and legs together, mimicking ancient Egyptian wood sculptures.


The Classical Period (480-323 BC) began with the end of the Athenian tyranny in the 5th century BC and saw the Persian Wars. Philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato came to fame during this period also known as the Athenian “golden age”. There was a great increase in temple construction such as the completion of Athenian Acropolis and Erechtheion. And of course, classical art is recognizable due to its almost perfect depictions of the human body in life-size statues. They began focusing on a variation of body poses as well as features. The Early Classical Period (480/479-450 BCE) is also known as the “Severe Style”. The features from this period include “realistic anatomy, serious expressions, pouty lips, and thick eyelids.” Artwork began to evolve more and more from the first geometric shapes to now natural human-like sculptures with emotions and distinguishable features.


Lastly, the Hellenistic Period( 323-31 B.C.), “Hellas” was what Greece was usually referred to as at the time. So Hellenistic means “Greek in nature” or “the spread of Greek ideology. Due to Alexander the Great’s reign, there has been a continuous expansion to the East so as the empire grew Greek culture and philosophy also spread to the areas they encountered. The art from this period expanded the detail and expression from the Classical Period as they began to depict illness, death, and even old age in sculpture. A big part of Hellenistic sculpture is it’s ability to elicit an emotional response with the expressions and body of the sculpture. The sculptures continued to get increasingly realistic due to the focus on making both facial and body expressions more natural.


When you think of Greek sculpture, you would never end up with an image of geometric shapes on a vase. What would pop up in your head is extremely detailed, lifesized statues that probably have a limb or two missing. The Greeks went a long way from simple geometric shapes on vases to statues with emotions and such humanlike features that you can mistake them for a living person. This is only a small portion of their rich and eventful culture.