Topic 1: Introduction to Greek Art30 minHistorical Overview
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the historical context of Greek art from the Archaic period through to the Hellenistic era, recognise the key characteristics of each period, and appreciate why Greek art remains foundational to Western artistic tradition.
Why Study Greek Art?
Greek art represents one of humanity's greatest artistic achievements. Over approximately 500 years (c. 600-100 BCE), Greek artists developed revolutionary approaches to representing the human form, creating works that would influence art for millennia to come.
The Greeks pioneered naturalism - the realistic representation of the human body - while also developing ideals of proportion, balance, and beauty that became standards for Western art. Understanding Greek art means understanding the foundations of European artistic tradition.
Key Concept
Greek art developed from rigid, stylised forms in the Archaic period to increasingly naturalistic representations in the Classical period, before exploring emotion and drama in the Hellenistic era. This progression from stylisation to naturalism is fundamental to understanding Greek art.
Greek art is typically divided into four main periods. Each period has distinctive characteristics that you need to recognise and discuss in your essays.
Archaic Period (c. 600-480 BCE)
Characteristics: Rigid, frontal poses; 'Archaic smile'; stylised hair and drapery; strong Egyptian influence. Sculptures show kouros (male youth) and kore (female) figures with formulaic features.
Key works: New York Kouros, Anavysos Kouros, Peplos Kore
Early Classical / Severe Style (c. 480-450 BCE)
Characteristics: Transition from Archaic stiffness; more natural poses; serious facial expressions replacing the Archaic smile; early experiments with contrapposto (weight shift).
Key works: Kritios Boy, Riace Bronzes, Charioteer of Delphi
High Classical Period (c. 450-400 BCE)
Characteristics: Idealized human form; perfect proportions; balanced contrapposto; serene expressions; the 'Classical ideal' of beauty. Athens' golden age under Pericles.
Characteristics: More sensuous, softer forms; introduction of the female nude; emotional expression; elongated proportions; S-curve poses.
Key works: Hermes and the Infant Dionysus (Praxiteles), Aphrodite of Knidos (Praxiteles), Apoxyomenos (Lysippos)
Hellenistic Period (c. 323-31 BCE)
Characteristics: Dramatic emotion and movement; virtuoso technique; diverse subject matter (old age, children, foreigners); theatrical compositions; extreme naturalism.
Key works: Laocoön and His Sons, Dying Gaul, Winged Victory of Samothrace
Art in Greek Society
Greek art was never 'art for art's sake' - it served important social, religious, and political functions. Understanding this context is essential for interpreting the works you study.
Religious Function
Most surviving Greek sculpture was created for religious purposes - as cult statues in temples, votive offerings to the gods, or decoration for sacred buildings. The Parthenon sculptures, for example, glorified Athena and celebrated Athenian piety.
Commemorative Function
Kouroi often served as grave markers or commemorated athletic victories. They represented the ideal of the kalos kagathos - the 'beautiful and good' citizen who embodied Greek values of physical excellence and moral virtue.
Political Function
Art celebrated civic identity and political power. The Parthenon proclaimed Athens' wealth and cultural superiority. Depictions of Greeks defeating Centaurs, Amazons, and Persians symbolised the triumph of civilisation over barbarism.
The Greek Ideal
The Greeks developed specific ideals about the human form that shaped their art:
Proportion and Symmetry: The sculptor Polykleitos wrote a treatise called the Canon establishing ideal proportions for the human body. His Doryphoros embodied these mathematical relationships.
Youth and Athletic Beauty: The ideal male was young, athletic, and nude - reflecting Greek gymnasium culture and the importance of physical training. The female ideal evolved from clothed korai to the sensuous nudes of Praxiteles.
Ethos over Pathos: Classical art favoured calm, dignified expressions (ethos) over emotional intensity (pathos). This changed in the Hellenistic period when dramatic emotion became central.
How to Analyse Greek Art
When studying Greek art for your exam, you need to consider multiple aspects of each work. Here's a framework for analysis:
1. Formal Analysis
Describe what you see: pose, proportions, drapery, facial expression, composition. Use precise vocabulary - contrapposto, chiastic balance, wet drapery, Archaic smile.
2. Technical Analysis
Consider materials and techniques: marble vs bronze; lost-wax casting; use of colour (polychromy); inlaid eyes; attached elements. How do these affect the work's appearance and meaning?
3. Contextual Analysis
Place the work in its historical and cultural context: when and where was it made? What was its function? Who commissioned it? What does it tell us about Greek society and values?
4. Comparative Analysis
Compare works to show development: how does this work differ from earlier/later examples? What does this tell us about changing artistic priorities and techniques?
The Problem of Copies
An important issue when studying Greek art: most famous Greek sculptures survive only as Roman copies. The originals were often bronze, which was melted down for reuse. Roman copies in marble may differ from the originals in:
• Quality of carving
• Addition of supports (tree stumps, struts) needed for marble
• Possible changes to pose or details
• Loss of polychromy (painted surfaces)
When discussing works like the Doryphoros or Discobolus, always acknowledge that we're looking at Roman copies and consider how this affects our understanding.