The artwork titled “Winemaking, Tomb of Ipuy” dates back to the period of c.1279 – c.1213 BC, during the New Kingdom era of Ancient Egypt. This genre painting was created to adorn the tomb of Ipuy, a craftsman and artisan. As an example of New Kingdom art movement, it illustrates the winemaking process in ancient times.
In the depiction, several figures are engaged in the stages of winemaking. From left to right, the first two figures are treading grapes in a vat to extract the juice, a common practice in ancient winemaking. The men are shown barefoot and using ropes for support as they perform this task. The man to the far left is depicted in profile, a characteristic style of Egyptian art, while the man next to him is shown with his head turned backwards, possibly communicating with the figures behind him.
Next, the image shows a man bent over, reaching into the vat, perhaps collecting the grape juice or assisting in the pressing process. He is followed by another man carrying a basket full of grapes towards the vat, representing the continuation of the grape supply for the pressing process.
Above these figures is a lush arrangement of grapevines with clusters of grapes hanging, which sets the scene and illustrates the source of the grapes used in winemaking. The color palette includes earthy tones with an emphasis on yellow ochre for the background and a combination of red, white, and green hues for the figures and vines. This artwork provides not only a visual account of winemaking practices in ancient Egypt but also reflects the societal importance of wine and agricultural activities during that era. The flat, two-dimensional representation of the figures and the stylized presentation of the grapevines are indicative of Ancient Egyptian artistic conventions.