Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water) 420 BC

Editor: We're looking at a terracotta bell-krater, a bowl for mixing wine and water, created around 420 BC by Polion. It’s currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm really struck by the contrast of the figures against the black background, they really seem to leap out at you! What can you tell us about this work? Curator: This krater gives us a fascinating glimpse into the social function of art in ancient Greece. Pottery like this wasn't just decorative. It was a key part of social rituals. Consider how wine, often diluted with water, was central to symposia – gatherings of men for intellectual discussions and entertainment. Does knowing this context influence how you interpret the scene depicted? Editor: It does! I initially just saw it as figures and music, but now I’m wondering, is this symposium what is being shown? It’s not a grand scene of gods, more everyday people, no? Curator: Exactly. Polion’s choice to depict what appears to be a musical scene is deliberate. He's speaking to and of the present. These images had power and importance in shaping how individuals perceived and interacted within their community. It’s not mythology, or heroics, but reflections of their social life, which served the needs and desires of those drinking from it, seeing themselves represented as they truly wanted to be seen. It reminds me of the Roman quote “Ars Gratia Artis”, meaning Art for Art’s Sake. The vase is beautiful on the one hand and practical on the other hand. Editor: So, the artwork isn't just about what it shows, but also about how it functioned within the larger culture? This krater tells a story about its original viewers, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. By looking at how this object was used and viewed, we understand the dynamic relationship between art and society in ancient Greece. Editor: Thanks, that was a really interesting look into what it meant to have something on display for viewers of a different time.