Art History Essay Argumentative Essay Samples

One of the writers whose name is William Faulkner said: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” As he said, past is still going. His quote is similar to the history of art. Throughout art history, we learn and imagine about our past and how people used art to represent their lives on their period. One of the artworks that people used to represent their lives is vase. People used vase both, as art work and as household item. It was used to store water or wine in it or something else. As the time passes through, vase is developed and artists started making detailed carvings on vases. Therefore, vases are getting more popular nowadays and most of them were popular in archaic period. Vases that are made in Greece were found in Italy Etruscan tombs. There are many connections between Greece and Italy. But the connections between Greece and Italy throughout the vases are similar in culture and religion. Also myths tell that vases were used differently in trade system between two countries.
First of all, when people first think about Greece they refer to Greek mythology. Greek myths are popular all over the world. Greek artists like to put myth on their vases representing their God whom they believe or the story which they like. The vase which is called “Attic Red-figure Calyx-krater” by Euphronios shows that the artist remarked one of the Greek myth on his vase. According to the information about this artwork, it said that “Euphronios painted both mythological compositions and scenes from daily life”(). Euphronios used to paint black background and draw human in red color on the vases. You can see different scenes by rotating the vase. One of scenes is a battle between Hercules and giant Antaeus and the other one is about music competition. Hercules is a famous half-God and half-human who is powerful hero to people at that period. On that scene, Hercules lifted up Antaeus in order to weaken Antaeus’strength and then killed him. Etruscans liked Greek mythology as their religion were similar to Greek. Therefore, collected vases were stored in their tombs to tell future generations about the myths.
Second of all, Greece and Italy, roles of using vases are sometimes similar or different. The common way of using vase for both countries were filling and pouring wine. The artwork of “Attic Red-figure Calyx-krater” was also used as a bowl that was filled with the water and wine to drink. Also, there is a handle on right and left side of the krater, so that people can easily pour the wine using seizing handles. Moreover, according to the reading, it said that “Some were funerary; some held the drink at drinking-parties or symposia; some served as prizes at athletic competitions and so on”(143). This shows that vases were the prizes to the winners at athletic competitions in Greece. This is common usage of vase between Greece and Italy. One of the readings state: “The Etruscans were barbarians, of course: they may have collected strigils, and know how to throw a discus, but they were barred from attending the Panathenaic game”(143). The Etruscans have strong competitive spirits of winning the game therefore, they have won many games in Panathenaic games. Because of this reason, vases could be easily found in Etruscans tombs. On the other hand, both Greece and Italy use of vases significantly differ in funeral procedure. Like Egyptians, Etruscans like to put their things into their tombs after they died. Referring to the reading, it also said that “Because games were really or ideally part of the funerary rite of passage in Etruria”(143).There are many games depicted on Etruscans’ wall tombs because games represent “funerary rite passage” to Etruscans. By this reason, vases that depicted games are also known for the use on “funerary rite of passage”.
Last of all, trade system between Greece and Italy made a close relationship to each other. To export vases, Greek artists customized the tastes of Etruscan. According to the resource, it said: “As they became familiar with Etruscan tastes, Greek potters altered some of their products to please the Etruscan consumer”(). This shows that Greece artists know the efficient strategy of selling their vases to Etruscans by knowing their tastes. Moreover, “They imitated Etruscan shapes, painted them with popular Etruscan themes, and shipped them off to Italy”(). As mentioned before, Greek artists depicted famous myths on their vases and Etruscan liked Greek mythology. This is the reason why Greek vases are popular in Italy.