The artwork under discussion is the “Terracotta Stamnos (jar),” crafted by an anonymous artist of Ancient Greek Pottery around 525 BC. This piece, made of terracotta, is a representative artifact of the Archaic period and falls under the Black-figure style of the same era. The stamnos features genre painting and served as a utensil in its time. Presently, it is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The jar exhibits the distinctive black-figure technique, where silhouetted figures are painted in black slip on the natural red clay of the vessel. This artistic style allows for fine detailing and intricate designs, prominently depicted in the figures and patterns that adorn the jar. The black silhouette characters demonstrate classical Greek attire and activities, perhaps illustrating mythological or everyday scenes. Decorative motifs, such as lotus buds and palmettes, as well as a carefully organized pattern of black geometric shapes on the lower part of the jar, enhance the overall visual appeal, marking it as an exemplary piece of Archaic Greek pottery.
