Paleolithic Art
Jake Eudene
Background
Art from the Paleolithic age is the first recognized period of art, lasting from roughly 38,000 to 8,000 B.C.E. The Upper Paleolithic age of art is significant because it hosts the first known artists[1]. Prior to this time period, there is currently no evidence for art amongst human ancestors.
Turning Point
The Paleolithic age experienced an explosion of different art forms such as cave paintings, statuette molding, pottery, and bone object carvings. The art of the Paleolithic age is so broad and not yet understood that it includes things from the “crudest finger squiggles on soft clay to polychrome paintings[2].” The paintings were made by applying pigment mixed with oil binder to the rock surface or into the engraved designs[3]. Most of the Upper Paleolithic art appears in Spain and France and can be classified as art that follows ideas expressed in the early impressionist age[4].
Effect
From Paleolithic art archaeologists and other anthropologists can learn more about the pre-historic peoples who made the art. It is theorized that Paleolithic people created art to decorate their dwelling, to “use in important rituals or ceremonies,” or to “represent memorable events.” It is also possible that the “art was created to honor or influence the spirit world[5].” Regardless of the multiple theories as to what the art was intended for, analyzing the art provides massive amounts of insight into the pre-historic cultures.
[1] Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation.”
[2] John Whymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 254.
[3] Campbell Grant. “Rock Drawings of the Coso Range.” Maturango Press. 1968: 25.
[4] John Whymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 261.
[5] Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation.”
Bibliography
Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art Was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation).”
W. Baird, and J. Kenneth Pringle. “Rock Drawing of the Coso Range.” Maturango Press. 1968: 16-25.
<http://www.mitchellteachers.net/WorldHistory/MrMEarlyHumansProject/MrMAnalyzingPaleolithicArtAssignment.html>.
Campbell Grant, James
John Wymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 254-266.
Jake Eudene
Background
Art from the Paleolithic age is the first recognized period of art, lasting from roughly 38,000 to 8,000 B.C.E. The Upper Paleolithic age of art is significant because it hosts the first known artists[1]. Prior to this time period, there is currently no evidence for art amongst human ancestors.
Turning Point
The Paleolithic age experienced an explosion of different art forms such as cave paintings, statuette molding, pottery, and bone object carvings. The art of the Paleolithic age is so broad and not yet understood that it includes things from the “crudest finger squiggles on soft clay to polychrome paintings[2].” The paintings were made by applying pigment mixed with oil binder to the rock surface or into the engraved designs[3]. Most of the Upper Paleolithic art appears in Spain and France and can be classified as art that follows ideas expressed in the early impressionist age[4].
Effect
From Paleolithic art archaeologists and other anthropologists can learn more about the pre-historic peoples who made the art. It is theorized that Paleolithic people created art to decorate their dwelling, to “use in important rituals or ceremonies,” or to “represent memorable events.” It is also possible that the “art was created to honor or influence the spirit world[5].” Regardless of the multiple theories as to what the art was intended for, analyzing the art provides massive amounts of insight into the pre-historic cultures.
[1] Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation.”
[2] John Whymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 254.
[3] Campbell Grant. “Rock Drawings of the Coso Range.” Maturango Press. 1968: 25.
[4] John Whymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 261.
[5] Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation.”
Bibliography
Alan Shawn. “Early Humans Unit: Understanding Why Paleolithic Art Was Created (Primary v. Secondary Source Interpretation).”
W. Baird, and J. Kenneth Pringle. “Rock Drawing of the Coso Range.” Maturango Press. 1968: 16-25.
<http://www.mitchellteachers.net/WorldHistory/MrMEarlyHumansProject/MrMAnalyzingPaleolithicArtAssignment.html>.
Campbell Grant, James
John Wymes. “The Palaeolithic Age.” St. Martin’s Press. 1982: 254-266.