Visual Analysis Paper
Art, since time immemorial, has played a great and significant part that has helped us understand many aspects of history that dates back from the Greco-Roman period and times to the present days. Artistic features have convened varied information that touch on culture, religion, politics, economics, farming among many issues that we experience in man's day today society and lives. In presenting the stated different themes, various styles and techniques have been used since the old days that have enabled artists come up with sculptures among other artistic features that have stood the taste of time in conveying the intended message as well beautifying the environment and representing nature. However, my goal in this paper is to analyze different objects from c 650-750 BCE that describe the period of Geometric and Orientalizing while displaying the red and black figure techniques while assessing the historical, cultural and economical importance that the objects displayed. This paper seeks to analyze the object of Geometric period and then proceeds to the Orientalizing period, and then analyzes the object that used black-figure technique and finalizes by the object with the red-figure technique.
Geometric period objects, as the one shown above, Heron Class Holla is among the many different styles of vase types that review different developments during the ancient Greek times during c 750 BCE. The sculpture is of a human body that has no neck depicting an era of violence after beheading. It has a neck that is plain and clear. The upper shoulder presents a horse, which indicates and depicts the ancient times' mode of transport, and a diamond dice that was used mostly by royal families and kings that ruled during the ancient times. The main body depicts dinosaurs that are said to have evolved in the present times to other creatures and getting extinct. During the ancient times, great animals such as dinosaurs were common and existed that in some occasions were domesticated and used along the horses in fighting wars. An analysis of the piece of art carries with it great history that the present generation can use to understand the ancient times and lives besides the beauty that the object brings. The lower body indicates skeletons, which resemble those of a fish and reptiles, in general indicating the harsh effects that death had and possible climate change that made the creatures extinct as a result of may be human interference and climate change and war. The foot of the object is stable supporting the belly and body of the object.
Orientalizing period
The orientalizing period shown above objects existed mostly from the periods of c 700-650 BCE that mostly indicated political, economical as well as cultural transformations that occurred during the ancient times and days. During these times, conflict had diminished, and society by then was realizing changes in population growth that was characterized by economic stability, explorations and developments. It included foreign concepts, which had been borrowed from the increased interaction of people from other parts of the world such as Egypt that was equally rich in a culture that influenced other many parts of the world. The object lacks a head, but the neck is open and wide meaning that it was used for carrying goods and probably foods indicating those times were changing from wars to other important economic and developmental issues. On the upper shoulder, there is a drawing that indicates people standing that are close to each other depicting the drastic population increase that was witnessed during the times that resulted from increased food production and developments that improved quality of lives, as well. It also indicates the end of war since during the warring times many people were killed in the course of war and because war destabilizes other sectors of the society as well, hindering population growth and development. The body presents a goddess that has wings with a human head and the lower body resembling the lower body of a fish. This goddess is the goddess of food and success, which probably came and was borrowed from Egypt, after the ancient population interacted and shared different cultures both native and foreign that they incorporated in their lives. The lower part of the body has drawings of bread showing the good harvest that the goddess is associated with and plenty of food that they had. In general, it tells us the period that experienced great agricultural revolution and changing lifestyles and cultures. The stable feet of the sculpture that supports the whole body tell us of the peace that was continued to be witnessed in the orientalizing period.
Object utilizing the black-figure technique
Black-figure technique is the oldest practice that was initially used to decorate vases among other artistic features in the ancient times. The technique presents products that have a brown or yellow background with black paintings and drawings on top of the object. Most objects, which have used black-technique, carry drawings and paintings that are mostly associated with Geometric period times that depicted different themes that were common during those times such as wars. The objects after being made were dried up and painted and subjected to a three phase firing in a kiln while varying the temperatures. Initially the vase or object was fired at higher temperatures resulting into oxidation that turns the color to orange and brown. The object is later fired at higher temperatures with additions to remove oxygen that turns the color to black. Cooling is then done that turns the color to reddish, and brown due to renewed oxidation, while the painted parts retain the black color.
Object utilizing the red-figure technique
Red-technique was used in the ancient times, mostly by Athens, in decorating fine pottery. Red-figure technique came after the black-figure technique and used mostly in vases. The name red-figure is said to be a recent phenomenon that depicts figures and drawings in vessels on a black background. The red- technique uses three phase firing technique. Paintings are applied to unfired vessels and then firing process takes stage. Contours of the vase are then drawn with brush using glossy clay slip and different colors that contrasted the background after burning is applied in which most cases is red, white or cream. Triple-phase firing is then done that turns the clay to black color through a process known as reduction. The red color of the vase is realized through the re-oxidation process that is done at slightly low different temperatures. Many vases and objects that have used the red-technique mostly have been made during the orientalizing periods and most of the drawings in such objects depict the themes that dominated those ancient times.
Arts generally in the ancient times played an important role that touched on all parts of the society irrespective of the two periods mentioned above or the technique used. Different styles that were used in the past have been passed on to the contemporary times that have enabled many other industries such as architecture and engineering to borrow designs and ideologies that they have incorporated in the different professions and advanced knowledge.
In conclusion, the different periods noted above formed the basis that shaped and turned art in many ways that witnessed a lot of challenges and changes. Artistic features communicated a lot during such times that experienced a lot of challenges in terms of development and technology, and many issues were presented in the form of art that touched on all sectors of life. Techniques used in producing objects of high quality show the emphases and seriousness that art in general had in those days. Through paintings and drawings, as well as shapes of designs of various objects, it enabled us to interpret and give meaning to various products and objects that were made during those times as it has been discussed above. It would be interesting to see what other people say about the objects of the ancient times such as vase noted above among others and the interpretations they give to them. Such kind of information should be shared and published to further broaden the scope of analyzing and interpreting artistic features.
