What Is Attic Pottery?
And how do you talk about it?
Attic Red-Figure Psykter, about 510 BCE, Greek (Attic). Terracotta, 13 × 10 1/16 in. Getty Museum, 82.AE.53
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How do you describe a work of art?
With art terms, of course! We’ve heard your questions about works of art at Getty, and we’re here to answer your Frequently Asked Art Questions (FAAQs).
Let’s take a look at this Attic Red-Figure Psykter. What's a "psykter"? What's "red-figure"? Why is it shaped like that? Good questions. We've got you covered.
Watch the video, or read on below!
What Is "Attic"?
Attica is a region of Greece, with the city of Athens at its heart. Anything that comes out of Attica is referred to as "Attic," including pottery. The Attic pottery industry flourished from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.
The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 CE, 1913, Willis Mason West. Public domain
One easy way to spot Attic pottery is by its deep orange tones, a characteristic of the iron-rich clay deposits of the region.
What Is "Red-Figure"?
When referring to Attic pottery, you’ll often find two terms: “black-figure” and “red-figure.”
“Black-figure” is the older technique.
It involved painting black figures (with a few touches of white or purple, and details rendered using a sharp point) on the vase, and leaving the background so that it shows off the color of the clay.
Attic Black-Figure Neck Amphora (detail), about 550 BCE, Greek (Attic). Terracotta, 13 15/16 × 11 1/16 in. Getty Museum, 85.AE.376
“Red-figure” was invented around 520 BCE, and in many ways flipped the process around. In this technique, it’s the background that’s painted black, while the figures reveal the red terracotta, hence “red-figure.”
Attic Red-Figure Psykter (detail), about 510 BCE, Greek (Attic). Terracotta, 13 × 10 1/16 in. Getty Museum, 82.AE.53
What Are Those Red Figures Doing?
The next time you're in a museum's galleries, or browsing our Attic pottery collection online, take some time to look closely at the scenes depicted on Attic pottery. You may be surprised at what you find.
The figures on our Attic Red-Figure Psykter are a group of men hanging out, probably at an ancient training ground.
Some are getting a little flirty with one another.
Another is portrayed from the back—an innovative perspective for the time—which is maybe given away by the odd angle of the figure’s right arm.
What Is a Psykter?
Attic pottery came in a variety of shapes and sizes, for a variety of functions. A psykter (Greek for “cooler”) is a type of Greek vase used as a wine cooler. Check out this Attic Black-Figure Psykter made around the same time.
Attic Black-Figure Psykter, about 530 B.C., Greek (Attic). Terracotta, 13 in. Getty Mueum, 96.AE.94
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