The Decoration of the Oinochoe at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Theatrical Painting?

The oinochoe displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is a prime example of the analytical challenges posed by the ceramic iconography that decorates Greek vases. There is currently no agreement about its interpretation, nor is there a defined thematic scope. Even though there are different ways in which ancient iconography is linked with theatre, all of them are circumscribed to the theatrical realm. But what happens when we note theatrical elements in paintings that are also related to other realms? This article aims at providing an alternative interpretation of the artifact’s decoration, framing previous analyses within the realm of theatre. We argue that, given its iconographic elements and thematic relations, it is possible to include the scene depicted in the vase within the group of the so-called theatrical paintings.