Notes from Source: This study examines genre (daily-life) scenes on Attic red-figure pottery that portray the interaction between men and women, focusing on both social and artistic aspects of the scenes. Introductory sections describe the value of vase-painting as socio-historical evidence, the artistic conventions employed by the vast painters, the nature of Classical Athenian society as known from other types of evidence, and the general portrayal of Athenian society on vases. The bulk of the text focuses on three types of male-female interaction found on Attic red-figure vases from 530 to 400 BC: lovemaking, marriage (including family life), and gift exchange (including a section on the mythological type showing Polyneices’s bribery of Eriphyle). Catalogues in each section provide a description of each scene studied. The Conclusion synthesizes the findings of these studies related to the creative processes of the vase painters, the relation between the trade and use of vases and their decoration, and the socio-historical significance of the representations. Lovemaking occurs primarily on Archaic cups, mostly found in Italy. Various sexual acts are performed by isolated couples and in groups. Coitus is most frequent, and rear-entry the preferred position. Fellatio and beating women with sandals are the most common non-coital acts. The preference for such acts shows the emphasis on male pleasure and an emotional distance between lovers, though tender romance is also encountered throughout the Archaic and Classical periods. Most and perhaps all of the women in the scenes are prostitutes. Wedding scenes showing bride and groom together are the most common family type on red-figure vases. Most are Classical and occur on vessels employed in wedding rituals. Red-figure retains the chariot procession inherited from black-figure, but prefers a procession on foot which comes to be located indoors. Other types occur, including general romantic scenes. All share a tendency to stress the emotional and physical union of bride and groom as the basis of the household. All are quietly romantic, and they often employ the personification of Eros. Family life can be recognized on Classical vases that illustrate the child-bearing and textile-related labor of the wife and share the quite romantic tone found in weddings. Scenes of warrior’s departure are ambiguous, but come to show husband and wife. Erotic gift-giving between the sexes was most popular in the Early Classical period and is found on a range of shapes appealing to males and females alike. The interaction shown ranges from prostitution, signified by the gift of a purse or other valuables from male to women, to true romance, seen in the gift of flowers and the like which are given by members of both sexes. Though husband and wife do exchange romantic tokens, scenes showing spinning women offered purses and other gifts portray prostitution or attempted seduction. Even mercenary gifts, however, may be portrayed in romantic setting. The mythological bribery of Eriphyle is intimately connected with this genre tradition, and need not have had a source in monumental painting or tragedy. Vase paintings are especially valuable for revealing social attitudes. Iconographical traditions in genre themes reveal conventional modes of thought, though some painters seem to have expressed personal views. Vase shape is probably the most significant factor for determining both decoration and marketing patterns, matters which are less connected to each other. Romantic interaction between the sexes is found in both the Archaic and Classical periods. In the Archaic period it occurs with prostitutes in scenes generally found outside of Attica. Romance is transferred to marriage during the classical period in scenes which were designed to be seen in Athens. The vases therefore provide important evidence for a romantic family ideal in Athens during the second half of the fifth century BC.

Further Notes: Book Title: THE INTERACTION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN PORTRAYED ON ATTIC RED-FIGURE POTTERY ISBN: 9798660316890