Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 6

Art History - Essay Example Long time ago, pottery vessels would be used mainly for four functions. These functions include; eating, drinking, cooking and storage purposes. With respect to the artwork under analysis, the Red Figure Column Krater is one form of pottery that has an outstanding history rooted in the culture and lifestyles of the Greeks (Museum of Fine Arts). The Column Krater is made out of ceramic clay, and was mainly used by the Greeks to mix and drink wine. The Column Krater was valued as a special vessel, thus it was used majorly in households to serve wine to esteemed guests. The vessel is estimated to have come into existence around 470BC (Museum of Fine Arts). This paper will contextualize the Red Figure Column Krater within the parent culture. The red figure column krater originated for Greece. It should be understood that Greeks started engaging in pottery as early as the 7th Millennium BC (Museum of Fine Arts). Original use of pots specifically happened at the eastern peninsula of the Me diterranean Sea, in the Neolithic era. There have been various pieces of evidence which suggest that Greek culture might have been the starting point of all form of pottery. Pots made in the era range from the clay-made vessels to bronze-aluminum vessels. Most signatures of the artists behind ancient Greek artistic works have been found either on the vessels themselves are where they were found. Currently, signatures can be seen in ancient pots kept in most of the archives and museums in the world. Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words Art History - Essay Example The video considers a variety of early 20th century artists that implemented African art techniques, and argues that it was these early Western artists that in great part shaped the way later Western artists would use and implement African sculpture. The video goes on to demonstrate through side-by-side comparisons ways that Western artists appropriated African sculpture within their own work. It argues that in this appropriation Western artists oftentimes misinterpreted the African art. One such example comes in terms of a sculpture of an African face, and its appropriation in a Western painting. One of the weaknesses of the video is that it takes a somewhat pedantic view of influence in criticizing Western appropriation of these African sculptures. For instance, the video never gives an in-depth explanation of how the artists misread the African art. It also neglects to note that it may not have been the intention of the Western artists to accurately interpret the African art, but instead to implement its structural or artistic dimensions as a means of influence. Perhaps some of the most engaging elements are the video are the biographical footage it contains into the lives and apartments of early 20th century artists. These photos provide the viewer with direct insight into the lives and habitats of these Western artists.