An Investigation of Black Figures in Classical Greek Art
by Sarah Derbew
Abstract: Museum and academic scholars are key players in the fight for contextualized and equitable perspectives of black people in antiquity; they curate exhibits and write books that greatly influence vast audiences. Preconceived notions of Black people are seared into our country’s collective consciousness; without an overhaul of the “black=slaves in perpetuity” trope, damaging stereotypes become ossified as facts for future generations. This brief examination reveals ancient Greek art to be an expansive landscape. Ancient Greece’s visual heritage included representations of black people that nimbly provoked and cut across hierarchies.
Blog post on The Getty Museum’s Iris Blog, April 25th 2018.
Access at: https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/an-investigation-of-black-figures-in-classical-greek-art/