Lekythos (oil flask): Woman with Balls of Wool c. 470

Editor: This is a Lekythos, an oil flask, depicting a woman with balls of wool, attributed to the Brygos Painter. The scene feels so domestic, like a peek into ordinary life. What stands out to you? Curator: This piece offers a glimpse into the prescribed roles of women in ancient Greece. We see domesticity not just as lived experience, but as a social expectation, a coded performance. How does viewing this scene through a feminist lens change your perspective? Editor: I guess it highlights the limited sphere women occupied? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to consider power dynamics and the social constructs that confined women’s identities and work to the home. This wasn't simply a depiction of life; it was a reinforcement of societal norms. Editor: I see. It’s more than just a pretty picture on a vase. Curator: Exactly. It is a visual archive of gendered labor, reminding us to question what is shown and, more importantly, what is omitted.