Fragment of a terracotta kylix: lip-cup (drinking cup) 550 BC

This fragment of a terracotta drinking cup, a kylix, was crafted by Sakonides, presenting us with a glimpse into ancient Greek life. We see the profile of a woman, adorned with jewelry, a symbol of status and beauty in that era. Consider how this profile, with its emphasis on line and form, echoes in later works. It reminds me of Renaissance portraiture, where the profile was similarly used to convey nobility and individuality, seen in the works of Botticelli. The simple adornments and elegant hairstyle are reminiscent of the hairstyles depicted in classical art that have carried through time. These shared visual elements act as a conduit, linking the emotional and aesthetic sensibilities of different epochs. The persistence of the profile and the emphasis on adornment speak to a deep-seated human desire for beauty and order. This cup fragment, though small, encapsulates enduring motifs that recur throughout art history, perpetually reborn and reinterpreted.