In ancient Greek vase-painting a technique in which figures were painted on a background of white slip. It developed in the region of Attica ca. 500 BCE. Because the painted surface was fragile compared to the other Attic vase-painting techniques, the white-ground technique was used mostly for lekythoi, a vase type with ritual and funerary functions. When lekythoi went out of use ca. 400 BCE, the white-ground technique also ceased. Web resource here.

White-ground lekythoi. Ca. 500–400 BCE. British Museum, London.