Ch.3 - Minoan Art

We don’t know much about the Minoans but they came from the region on Crete and were a nation of traders, sailors and pirates whose art was thus influenced by many culture.

Influence of cultures

Breaking away from Egyptian style

The figures and animals here, show vigour and look more real than the ‘frozen’ Egyptian style.

They must have learnt something from the Egyptian art for, their picture, despite its rapid movement, is an orderly scene and not just a wild tangle of animals and figures.

Movement in figures

Like Egyptian art, these forms too, cling to the wall and follow definite rules.

Better composition

For the Minoans, hunting as a sport and painting was done for pleasure. It tells us of the thrill of the chase and enjoyment of nature.

Happy and graceful shapes and clear colours made them good wall decorations.

Thrill of the chase

The most common type of painting, other than on pottery, were frescoes.

Frescoes; Very orderly composition

Common Octopus motif on pottery

Pottery painting is most important in the development of painting during this period.

Linear patterns of spirals, triangles, curved lines, crosses, fishbone motifs etc. were most commonly found painted on the pots in the Early Minoan painting.

Naturalistic designs like fish, squid, birds, and lilies then came about. In the Late Minoan period, flowers and animals were still the most characteristic, but the variability had increased.

Influenced Greek art

Strong geometric simplification of naturalistic shapes and monochromatic paintings became very common during the later phase. 

This style became important because of its influence on Greek art.