1. Archaic Greece

2.   In Greece’s transition from the Dark Age into the final stages of the Archaic period, artistic change accompanied political change. DARK AGE  Simplistic geometric designs on plain jars and pitchers Geometric Art

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4.  EARLY ARCHAIC AGE – 9 th to 8 th centuries  Vases 1.5m and more in height were completely covered with narrow encircling bands of small tight zigzags, triangles, diamonds, swastikas, and occasionally circles. Geometric Art

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7.  MID ARCHAIC AGE – 8 th century  Animal and human figures appear as a minor part of the decoration, usually in bands of repetitive little figurines, normally reduced to silhouetted geometric shapes.  Human figures with triangle torsos, blob like heads, stick arms and bulged legs.  Animals with this elongated necks and legs Geometric Art

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9.   Gradually as Greek culture prospered, the stiff geometric silhouette became looser, details appeared, and scenes began to develop which occupied more space.  Geometric bands soon swerved as borders for scenes with figures that slowly became more natural. Evolution of Geometric Art

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11.   Vase painting throughout this period was in the Corinthian black figure style, with figures painted in black on a surface which preserved the reddish colour of the clay.  The black colour was achieved through painting the clay with a slip which turned black in the heat of the kiln  Details were incised with a sharp tool, so a red line showed through the black.  Scenes included everyday activities such as men gathering olives as well as incidents from mythology such as Heracles. Vase Painting – Black Figure

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14.   At about 530 BC, Athenian vase painters began using a new technique, essentially the opposite of the black figure technique.  Figures were outlined on the red clay surface of the vase and the background was then filled with black.  Details were not scratched on, but painted on with a fine brush, creating firm lines.  Ultimately this would evolve into images of realistically drawn bodies with detailed costumes. Vase painting – Red Figure

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