Harvester Vase: Hagia Triada

The Harvester Vase was found in Hagia Triada on the island of Crete. This vase is from the Late Bronze Age, dating from 1550 to 1500 BC. The vase was originally made in three parts and was fitted together. The face is oval shaped and has a vessel on the top. The vase was carved on brownish steatite. The vase was originally glided with gold and hammered to paper-thin thickness. This piece is decorated with low-relief sculpture and shows a unique scene. The piece has pictorial designs. The composition is powerful, rhythmical, and lively. The vase is a sculptural piece. To get the full effect of the piece you have to see the whole thing, which may cause you to have to walk around the piece. The piece is a dark brown and greenish color. The brown and greenish color of the vase resembles harvest time in a way. The figures of the pieces are stylistic, however, their expressions, facial features, and muscles appear to look life-like. Even though there is a lot of repetition within the piece, the artist also portrayed individuality. The very top of the vessel has vertical lines that create texture.

The neck of the vase looks like it has a smooth texture. When you reach the band, the texture becomes rough again because the figures are carved into the piece. Then the bottom, which was reattached when the original piece became missing, has smooth texture that matches the neck of the vase. The vase has two parts, the neck and the shoulder. The form is a variant of the tall narrowed vessels. On the band, there is one leader of a group of twenty-seven figures. The leader, who has long hair, wears a cloak-like garment with a long staff on his shoulder. The dress and equipment of the figures are uniform. The figures are dressed in a kilt and a flat cap. Twenty-one figures out of the twenty-seven are carrying a stick-like object with three pointed ends. Even though the vase as repetition, there is a lot of movement within the piece. The figures overlap each other, which causes movement within the piece. The stick-like objects that the figures wear on their shoulder have a curved bland with three rods. The stick-like object has a knob at the end. The blades are attached to the pole above the knob. Between the knob and the blades are bindings that connect the middle rod to the outside ones.

The stick-like objects create a chaotic rhythmic motion. The stick-like objects also cause a multi-layered wave. The waves created by the stick-like object add energy and forward movement to the composition. This piece has a combination of both front and profile views. The figures’ bodies are very stylized. There seems to be an emphasis on physical strain and muscle. This piece also shows the skeletal structure of the human body. There is a definite emphasis on physical strain. The figures are nude down to the waist. The figures look very athletic, their left thigh looks slightly lifted, as if they are marching and are structured by muscles. However, their right leg, which is on the ground, does not look to have such muscles. They have different characteristics, and they all show some type of emotion. Out of all the figures, a few of them stick out. There is a great deal of emphasis to one figure in particular. He is the one shaking the rattle. You can see this figure’s full profile, and it looks as if he is inhaling air, making his ribs come alive. This really emphasizes the human skeletal structure of his body. The artist of this sculpture also shows the tension and relaxation of not only his face but also his three followers.

The facial expressions of all the men are naturalistic. The facial expressions give animation to the piece. The intense pictures of human emotions reveal that the people who created this vase were becoming aware of the importance of human emotion and the inner world. The composition is overflowing with energy due to the individuality of the humans. The vase is broken up into two parts. Half of the vase displays a group of four figures, who look as though they are shouting or singing. At about three-quarters after the group of shouters displays a man who is on his knees and is holding the waist of another man in front of him. The man in front of him has his head turned backwards to look at the man who has fallen behind him. These figures are vividly caught in their motion and differ from the basic consistency of the other figures. The Harvester Vase has a solid and strong composition. The composition gives rhythm to the piece. The piece comes alive through all the movement shown throughout the piece. This piece is done in a naturalistic way. The figures in the piece have life-like features and their clothes match the clothes of the present time.

The way the figures’ muscles are expressed are very life-like and natural. The detail of the work is unbelievable, especially given that the vase has a diameter of about five inches. The Harvester Vase is a portrayal of the human body, emotions, and expressions. The distribution of the vase shows stylistic uniformity. The Harvester Vase can be interpreted in a few different ways. The other twenty figures carry a stick-like object with three rods at the end. This stick-like object could represent an instrument such as a pitchfork. This leads to the idea that the twenty figures are harvesters. The harvesters seem to be marching in pairs. They seem to be stomping, but are in step with one another. Their lips are pressed together which could indicate silence. Although most of the men are in step, there is one exception. One harvester has fallen to his knees, causing the harvester in front of him to look back at him. An older man, wearing his hair long and a kind of fringed cope, which represents a ritual garment, lead the harvesters.

The leader carries a long staff that is crooked at one end and is tapering to the point at the other. The scene is possibly a harvester festival. In the middle of the vase there is a man who is shaking a rattle. The man holding the rattle wears a fringed cope, which was known to have been a ritual garment. He also wears a fitted cap that comes down to his neck and has a cut out for his ears, resembling the tutulus of a Roman priest. The man carrying the rattle has an open mouth, as if he is singing or shouting. Behind him are four figures, three with opened mouths wearing long cloaks. These people are perhaps depicting a choir led by a priest. The Harvester Vase can also be linked to religious interpretations. A man is wearing hides, which are linked to ritual connections. The leader of the group could be thought of as a priest since he is carrying a sprinkler over one of his shoulders. They are approaching a figure who is holding a staff, which definitely could be linked to have a religious meaning.

Even though the Harvester Vase can be interpreted in many ways, the most popular is that it was a harvesting ceremony. Most of the items in the piece are linked to harvesting. However, there are other symbols that are can be linked to religious aspects. These interpretations can be argued. However, I believe that the artist was mainly trying to put emphasis on the human condition. He puts more emphasis on the human emotions, facial expressions, and the physical strain of the figures than anything else. All of those that he emphasized point to the human condition. I think this is what the artist really wanted to portray throughout his work.

The Harvester Vase, made with brilliant skill depicted a march of figures, who are obviously taking part in some type of ceremony, whatever it may be. The Harvester Vase holds a degree of naturalism. It is a forceful impression of a group of human beings, who show extreme emotion. Even though the Harvester Vase is quite small, the artist was able to portray great amounts of details. The figures are stylistic, but also have a naturalistic style to them. The facial features, expressions, and physical strain are greatly captured within this piece. There is also a great deal of motion shown within the vase. The goal of the creator was to emphasize physical strain and emotions of the figures. Overall, the Harvester Vase is an incredible piece of art, with a great amount of detail through stylistic and naturalistic style that portrays the human condition.

References:

[ 1 ]. Ballerinas & Accountants Can Be Interior Designers Too. Irene Morton Banks, n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2012. .
[ 2 ]. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Thirteenth Edition ed. N.p.: Clark Baxter, 2009, 2005. Print. Pag. 90.
[ 3 ]. Rumpel, Dieter. “The ‘Harvester’ Vase Revised.” Anistoriton Journal 10.3 (2007): n. pag. Print. [ 4 ]. Rumpel, Dieter. “The ‘Harvester’ Vase Revised.” Anistoriton Journal 10.3 (2007): n. pag. 3-4 Print. [ 5 ]. Minoan Stone Vases. N.p.: Cameridge University Press, 1969. Print. Pg. 176.