Geometry vs. oriental works of art. and it was characterized by abstract motifs depicted in angular form. The oriental Orientalizing

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1 Surname 1 Name Instructor Course Date Geometry vs. oriental works of art The Greek art represents a huge fraction of the art developed in the past centuries. Generally, the Greek artists played a great role in the determination of the works of art in the latter generations. The two periods, the geometric and the Orientalizing represents two distinct but closely linked periods in the art history. The geometric period ran from 900 BCE to 700BCE and it was characterized by abstract motifs depicted in angular form. The oriental Orientalizing period on came in after the geometric period and it ran from 740BCE to 650BCE. The major characteristics of the artifacts created in this period as the name states were much oriented towards the display of the human form. The inner sarcophaguses and mummy is a piece of art representing the works done in the geometric period. The sarcophagus entailed the burial of a body in more than coffins. In this case, the smallest coffins were placed in larger coffins. The image depicts a small wooden mummy probably for a small child. The mummy was dated to between 808 to 518 BC with its origin being Egypt. According to Silvia Karman, the sarcophagus is a polychrome wood. The mummy cover is designed with an image of a human form lying with the hands akimbo. The eyes stare blankly into the front. According to Egyptian mythology, the eyes were meant to allow the dead to see the activities taking place around them. On the head of the coffin, the artists displayed a scarab beetle, a representation of the setting sun. In this case, the scarab represented

2 Surname 2 the setting of the sun in the next world and specifically the form it adopts prior to its rising in our world. Besides that, the image is two dimensional with only the frontal representation of the human form being displayed while the backside is a plain piece of wood forming the rest of the coffin. The image chosen from the Orientalizing period is of an Aphrodite work of art measuring 49.5cm in height and 12.5cm in width. It is painted in a myriad of colors from black, brown, pink, and red done on a white engobe. It represents the female form without any clothes. On the head is a huge headgear probably to reflect the class of the woman. The figure is donned with bracelets on both her hands this reinforcing the class of the woman in the society. Specifically, these were the attires of a queen as the image is attributed to Isis-Aphrodite who is an Egyptian goddess. The mythologies assert that the goddess represents the virtues of fertility courtesy of the features it bears. The pharaohs used this Aphrodite image as a god of fertility and specifically for the enhancement of childbirth and issues pertaining to rebirth. Apart from the Egyptians, the image was also widely used during the 2 nd and 3 rd centuries for funerary purposes by the Greeks. The sarcophaguses and the Aphrodite share close similarities in that they descended from Egypt. As such, the art reflects the Egyptian beliefs and gods. For instance, the sarcophagus is made in the shape of Osiris the god of the underworld. The sarcophagus was used to offer protection to the spirit of the departed on their way to the underworld. The Aphrodite, on the other hand, is a representation of the fertility god. The depiction of the female form was greatly revered and respected in the Egyptian and the Greek societies as such, beholders worshiped it. Apart from the display of the connection with the supernatural, it is quite clear that the works from both periods endeared to the representation of the human forms albeit in different details.

3 Surname 3 The differences between the artifacts from these two artistic periods emerge due to the fact that with time finer techniques of art come to existence. As such, the detail to which art was carried out in the geometric period is primitive as compared to that of the Orientalizing period. In this case, the sarcophagus representing the geometric period is based on two dimensions unlike the Aphrodite, which includes all the finer details of a human being and hence in three dimensions. Besides that, the color used in depicting the two carvings differs in the sense that one is much realistic as compared to the other. For instance, the Aphrodite is painted brown, pink, red, black on a white engobe. These colors primarily make the basic colors of the human skin. The Aphrodite is predominantly colored white, an aspect that reflects the normal skin color of human beings. The sarcophagus, on the other hand, has among it some unnatural human colors like green blue and yellow. These colors reflect the different metallic elements like gold and bronze. Art in the two periods varied in many aspects, from the materials used in the creation of the works to the procedures. The geometric period, which came earlier, lacked the creation of sculptures or the carvings, most of the work done during the period were paintings done on the surfaces. The sarcophagus, which represents the work done during the period, reflects this characteristic in the manner in which most of the details were captured using paint on the original material. The hieroglyphics and the colors depicting the imagery of the person on top of the cover of the coffin are predominantly drawings. In contrast to the geometric period, the Orientalizing period had the works done on sculptures and carvings. The Aphrodite, in this case, is a sculpture with most of the details carved out through chiseling and chippings. The details such as the legs and the hands are clearly formed out. The facial features have also been represented with a great degree of accuracy,

4 Surname 4 which brings out the image of a real person. These aspects combined with the fact that the work of art is done on a three-dimensional basis makes it more closely to real than the works done during the geometry period. Moreover, the works during the period insisted on the inclusion of ornaments in order to reflect the beauty of the characters. The process used in the creation of the ornaments entailed the slipping of materials, which would turn black during smoking hence creating a sharp contrast with the entire body. The use of ornaments did not exist in the geometry period of art. One other notable difference between the artistic works from the two periods is the materials used. The geometry relied on materials, which were easily available like wood. This contrast sharply with the Orientalizing period which had an expanded variety of materials to use ranging from clay in the molding of the images to bronze and other metals which came in handy in the sculpturing of the figures. The geometric period was characterized with the colonization of Italy. The Greeks established a number of colonies in the southern part of Italy and specifically in the towns of Sicily. The interaction between the Italians and the Greeks brought about a number of artistic changes as witnessed during the period. The works of art witnessed in this period entailed abstract motifs with a touch of angular geometry. The Messenia war, which involved the Sparta invading Messenia, took place within the period. The increased trade between the Greeks, Syrians, and the Egyptians led to an exchange in terms of art and other cultures. Both the Egyptians and the Syrian cultures were adopted into the Greek art. The Orientalizing, on the other hand, was characterized with the invention of the black figure painting of vases. The use of kilns in the enhancement of the durability of the works of art was another major aspect introduced during the period.

5 Surname 5 From the evidence highlighted above, it is quite clear the Greek works of art played a role in the shaping of the works of art in both the geometric period and Orientalizing period. Their engagement with people from different backgrounds both through war and trade are the major factors attributed to the speed with which the works of art were revolutionized. Figure of Aphrodite

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7 Surname 7 Black figure technique vs red figure technique Red figure technique refers to the imposing of an image on a black background. Black figure technique, on the other hand, refers to the imposing of a black image on a natural background of the artifact, which in this case can be red in color. Athenians were the first people to implement the black and red figure technique in the designing of fine pottery. The red figure technique highlighted was invented in around 530BC. The naturally red color of pottery meant that the artists using the black figure technique had to make incisions on the surface of the artifact. This process was not only tedious but also time consuming when compared to the redfigure technique. The red figure technique involved the application of a color changing paste on the top of the precast pottery. The parts where images were to be drone were covered in order to keep them in the natural red color. The remaining red parts depicted images courtesy of the black background created by the paste applied on the surface of the artifact. The black figure technique, on the other hand, involved the drawing of black images on the naturally red surface of a pottery. The image highlighted in figure 1 on the left depicts the work of the Athenians. The red color is the normal color of a casted pottery while the images are done in black. This figure is a clear representation of the black figure technique as attributed to the type of images displayed. The images show a man and a woman probably engaged in a dance. The other man standing next to them Figure 1

8 Surname 8 has a musical instrument in his hands. Two parallel lines demarcate the area where the images are displayed. A continuous zigzag line decorates the top part of the vase. The figure 2 on the left displays a pottery image with red figures lining its entire surface. The work of art was first cast to produce its natural color, which is the red color. A paste that turns black on heating was then applied on the entire body safe for the parts where the images would be displayed. As such, the black background brought out the clear reflection of the images due to the sharp contrast between the two Figure 2 The vase is 30 centimeters in height and 25 centimeters in width. It has to handle on two opposing ends. The vase owes its stability to a relatively wide base and a lowered center of gravity. It also has the neck to distinguish the rest of the body from the upper part of the pot. The sides of the pot are also decorated with images of men seated in a room while a woman entertains them. The woman is holding an instrument, which looks like a flute in her hands. The red and the black figure technique as highlighted above was the product of the Athenians. They had an aim of improving the physical appearance of their work. The entry of the

9 Surname 9 red-figure technique greatly enhanced the delivery of tasks for the artists. Not only was it possible for the artists to highlight the feelings and the emotions of the images they depicted on their works but also the touch of nature in the representation of human anatomy? This was a fact, which was impossible in the use of the black figure technology. In contrast to the black figure technology, the red figure technology did not require the artists to make incisions laboriously on the pottery. Generally, the work delivered by the artists courtesy of the red-figure technique is superior in its physical form. As such, the black figure technique was eventually phased out and its place was the red-figure technique. The black figure technique has attributes, which closely resembles the art produced during the geometric period. During the period, the depiction of a work in a nature-oriented format was almost impossible. This is reflected by the fact that the technology relied on a laborious technique whereby the artists would meticulously chip out the outlines of the image they wanted to display. Due to the intensity of the task and the apparent lack of precision, the chippings mostly ended up in the creation of a geometric image rather than a humanly and natural image. Any mistake made during the incision exercise resulted in an irreversible damage to the physique of the work in focus. In contrast, the red image technique, which bears a close resemblance to the Orientalizing period, allowed the artists for the first time to input their feelings and hence making the object or the images displayed to bear a close resemblance to actual natural objects. Courtesy of brushes, the artists could easily present the pictures in the form they desired most. Moreover, they could easily add aspects that reflect the emotions of the characters without going through much trouble. Any mistakes made in the process could be easily rectified as the paint could be wiped off. All this combined with the fact that the whole

10 Surname 10 process had been made quite simple saw the exit of the black image technique replaced by the red image technique. Attic red-figure vases are some of the most renowned Greek pottery that benefited from the technology. Courtesy of this fine art, the Greeks were able to dominate ceramic markets. As the title outlines, Attica was the center of this production technique in the Greek world. Besides Attica the other regions, which embraced this technology wholeheartedly, was the south Italy region that had been colonized by the Greeks. As a testament to the huge volumes of the pottery generated by this region's many specimens are still available to this day. The fact that Attica was the center of the technology is reflected with over 40, 000 specimen found in the region. South tally, on the other hand, has over 20, 000 specimen as a reflection of the strong history of the redfigure vessels development in the region. Generally, the images displayed on this works of art reflected the Greek way of life, right from their mythology, cultural history, iconography, to way of life. In the case of the images depicted, the artists highlighted the way of life of the people. The dances and the playing of music displayed how the people spent their days how the women and men interacted and the respective roles of the members of the society. Apparently, the women were treasured reflected by the manner in which the men sitted paid a close attention to them as displayed in image 2. The image 1, on the other hand, highlights how the members of the society enjoyed themselves, probably through dancing to the music. It is also evident from the representation that the Greeks were fun lovers as these images highlight their approach to life. The development of the red-figure vessels went through a myriad of stages, which took places over a number of years. In the early stages, the images displayed were not very clear because they seldom overlapped. In the pioneering stage, the artists introduced the relief line.

11 Surname 11 Moreover, those concerned also brought new shapes of the pottery into existence courtesy of research and continuous work. The late archaic period saw the exodus of the back figure techniques from the industry because of the strides made in the development of the red-figure technique. In the early and high classical period, the focus shifted to the images displayed. As such, developments ensured a departure from the images, which highlighted particular events to the display of continuous activities. In conclusion, the black and red image techniques revolutionized the manner in which the pottery and ceramics, in general, were displayed. The technology also ensured a more detailed representation and recording of the history pertaining the various societies, which existed. As such its invention and subsequent development created a huge influence in the field of art that is worth recognizing.