Priya Kapoor
During the Archaic period, the two most well-known vase-painting techniques were the black-figure and red-figure techniques. The black-figure technique was a common style of decoration in ancient Greek vases, depicting figures in black silhouette against a bright orange background. Athenian potters later invented the red-figure technique around 530 BC, which offered more freedom to vase painters and soon became the predominant style in Attic decorated pottery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Period | Archaic and Classical Periods (c. 600-323 B.C.E.) |
| Primary technique | Red-figure |
| Other techniques | Black-figure, white-ground |
| Origin | Workshops of Kerameikos, Athens |
| Inventor | Andokides Painter (potter) |
| Invention date | c. 530 B.C. |
| Advantages | More lively and realistic depictions, brighter figures, better contrast, more freedom for painters, better suited for naturalistic representation of anatomy, garments, and emotions |
| Disadvantages | Could not distinguish sex by using black slip for male skin and white paint for female skin |
| Subjects | Human and mythological activities, scenes from daily life, heroic deeds, Homeric tales, theatrical performances, athletic competitions |
| Materials | Terracotta (fired clay), liquid clay or "slip", glossy grey clay slip |
| Firing process | Three-stage firing process |
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What You'll Learn
The black-figure technique
Although it was invented by the Corinthians, the black-figure technique was quickly adopted by the Athenians and became the predominant style of decoration used throughout the Archaic period. The black-figure technique was first applied in the middle of the 7th century B.C., during the period of Proto-Attic vase painting. Attic potters benefitted from the excellent, iron-rich clay found in Attica. High-quality Attic black-figure vases have a uniform, glossy, pitch-black coating, and the colour-intensive terracotta clay foundation has been meticulously smoothened.
In black-figure vase painting, figural and ornamental motifs were applied with a slip that turned black during firing. After the decoration was applied, the vase painter could choose to add additional colours. Whites, reds, and yellows were the only colours able to withstand the high heat of the pottery kilns. Colours were applied according to certain conventions that developed alongside the black-figure technique. For example, white was used to indicate women's flesh, while men's flesh was usually left in the black colour of the slip, although it was sometimes painted over in red. The application of red and white could be used to create patterns, such as stripes on drapery or the ribs on an animal.
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The red-figure technique
In the red-figure style, the background of the pottery is painted black, while the figures and details are left in the natural red or orange colour of the clay. This is the reverse of the black-figure technique, where figures are depicted in black silhouette against a bright orange background. The red-figure technique offered more freedom to vase painters, allowing for a more detailed and naturalistic treatment of human anatomy, dress, and emotions. It also permitted the indication of a third dimension on the figures, with the use of shading and perspective.
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Clay slip and firing
The clay slip turned black during the firing process, which consisted of three stages. In the first two stages, the glossy clay reached a black or black-brown colour through reduction, and the reddish colour by a final re-oxidation. In the final stage, the lower temperatures prevented the glazed parts from re-oxidising from black to red, instead melting the finer surface in the previous stage.
The three-stage firing process was used for both red-figure and black-figure vase painting techniques. In the black-figure technique, the clay slip was used to create the black figures and ornamental motifs, with the background filled in with slip to turn black. In the red-figure technique, the figures remained the colour of the clay, while the background was filled in with slip to turn black.
The red-figure technique was invented around 530 BC, attributed to the "Andokides Painter", and offered more freedom to vase painters. It gradually replaced the black-figure technique, which was abandoned by the middle of the 5th century BC. The red-figure technique allowed for more detailed treatment of human anatomy and dress, and offered greater potential to represent three-dimensional space.
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Mythological scenes
During the Archaic and Classical Periods (c. 600–323 B.C.E.), vase paintings primarily depicted human and mythological activities. Athenian artists were particularly interested in depicting human figures in action and visualising scenes from mythology. Black-figure vases contain the largest corpus of mythological scenes in ancient Greek art. The black-figure technique, originating in Corinth, involves dark-coloured figures on a light background with incised details. The black-figure technique was abandoned by the middle of the 5th century B.C.
In around 530 B.C., Athenian potters invented the red-figure technique, which offered more freedom to vase painters and soon became the predominant style in Attic decorated pottery. The red-figure technique is the reverse of the black-figure technique, with the background filled in with slip turning black, while the figures remained the colour of the clay. Scenes from the life of women are especially frequent in red-figure pottery, and mythological scenes are dominated by images of Dionysos and Aphrodite.
The most common motifs in red-figure pottery are scenes from female life, erotes, female heads and phlyax scenes. Mythological scenes are rare in red-figure vase painting, with the black-figure technique containing more mythological scenes. However, some artists of the Late Classical period, such as the Eretria Painter, attempted to combine both traditions.
Vase paintings provide insights into many aspects of Athenian life and complement the literary texts and inscriptions from the Archaic and Classical periods. They aid in reconstructing the lives and beliefs of the ancient Greeks, with scenes ranging from daily life events to heroic deeds and Homeric tales. Inscriptions on vases can also help identify mythological figures, beautiful men or women, and even the painter or potter themselves.
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Daily life depictions
During the Archaic and Classical Periods (c. 600-323 B.C.E.), vase paintings primarily depicted human and mythological activities. These scenes offer valuable insights into the daily lives and beliefs of the ancient Greeks.
Vases were often shaped for specific daily uses, such as storing and transporting wine and foodstuffs (amphorae), drawing water (hydriai), drinking wine or water (kantharoi or kylices), and pouring libations (lekythoi). The pictorial decorations on these vases provide a glimpse into various aspects of Athenian life, complementing the literary texts and inscriptions from the Archaic and Classical periods.
For example, a red-figure Attic kylix (drinking vessel) from 490-480 BC depicts symposium scenes, offering a window into the social gatherings of ancient Greeks. Similarly, a black-figure oinochoe from around 480 BC illustrates Herakles fighting an Amazon, capturing the popular mythological narratives of the time.
The most common technique for archaic vase painting was the black-figure style, where figures were depicted in black silhouette against a bright orange background. This technique was used throughout the Archaic period, with the figures' outlines and details rendered by incision. However, by around 530 BC, Athenian potters developed the red-figure technique, which offered more freedom and allowed for more detailed representations of human anatomy and dress.
The red-figure technique gradually replaced the black-figure style as it provided new possibilities for drawing forms and naturalistic representations. It became the predominant style in Attic decorated pottery, with its bright figures standing out prominently against the dark background. The use of a brush in the red-figure technique also facilitated more nuanced depictions of emotions.
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Frequently asked questions
The two most well-known vase-painting techniques from the Archaic period are the black-figure and red-figure techniques.
In the black-figure technique, figures were depicted in black silhouette against a bright orange background. The red-figure technique, on the other hand, produced brighter figures that stood out prominently against a dark background. The red-figure technique also allowed for more detailed depictions of human anatomy and clothing.
The black-figure technique was the first to be used, with the red-figure technique being invented around 530 BC as a way to overcome the limitations of the black-figure style.
