Art is always in motion. Styles change and transform. Leading artists try new techniques to advance their skills. Art in ancient Greece was no exception. Let’s look at the four phases that define its artwork!
GEOMETRIC PERIOD
This era lasted from about 1050 to 700 BCE. It was a season of dramatic transformation within Greece. In a time of development, when the country was expanding its borders, art was focused on geometric designs. The human figures on the pottery were often represented by triangles, and they didn’t have small details like eyes or teeth. The people resembled stick figures rather than actual humans during this period’s designs. There is little doubt that the characters and stories that make up Greek mythology existed at the time. However, it is difficult to tell because there were no clear drawings of the Greek gods or goddesses.
ARCHAIC PERIOD
A striking change appeared in Greek art. The abstract geometric pattern gave way to a more naturalistic style, meaning that the stick figures started to look more like humans. If they were telling the story of Hercules, you could see Hercules drawn on the pottery. The people of the Greek colonies, especially the eastern craftsmen from Crete and Cyprus, inspired Greek artists. Eastern pictorial motifs were introduced into the artwork, like griffins, sphinxes (from Egypt), and even sirens. The Greek artists rapidly assimilated foreign styles and motifs into new portrayals of their myths and customs. An important point to note is that each of the Greek city-states reflected their own style in their art.
The prominent artistic centers of Greece were Sparta, Corinth, and Athens. Sparta and its neighbors produced ivory carvings and unique bronzes while the artists in Athens drew inspiration from myths and the vase painters focused on illustrated mythological scenes.
CLASSICAL PERIOD
Between c. 480–323 BCE, the Classical era of Greek art took place. This period was also known as the Golden Age of Greece. After the Greeks defeated the Persians in 479 BCE, Athens rose to power on the Greek mainland. It was during this time that the Parthenon was constructed, which shows the architectural and sculptural grandeur of Athens’ building program. Valued for its strength and reflective surface, bronze rather than marble became the preferred medium for free-standing sculptures. Even the way vases were painted changed. In the past, the black-figure technique was used, but by the Classical period, the red-figure technique became more popular.
At one time, giant statues were made with bronze to show the gods, but many were either destroyed or melted down to be reused later.
HELLENISTIC PERIOD
HELLENISTIC PERIOD
The Hellenistic era started in 323 BCE after the death of Alexander the Great. He had conquered much of the known world by the time he died, thus establishing an unprecedented contact with different cultures. Greek artists were exposed to new, unique styles. Murals on the walls of Greek homes began depicting the everyday lives of the people. Some corners of the houses were even dedicated to the gods, and art became a way to show one’s status in society.
Art collectors emerged for the first time, and they would commission not only original works of art but would also order copies of earlier Greek statues.
Whether in paintings, buildings, statues, or even clothing, Greek art continues to inspire!