Prehistory and The Birth of Art 1 Objectives

Prehistory and The Birth of Art 1

Objectives Chapter One deals with the beginnings of art and the tangible record of a uniquely human "aesthetic spirit. " In addition to providing descriptions and visual analyses to help the newcomer to art discover the spirit and beauty of prehistoric works. This chapter also provides reasoning on why the works look the way they do, and the ways in which they reveal something of the belief systems of early human artists. 2

But First… Western Civilizations vs Eastern Civilizations 3

Prehistoric Art History can be In the world of academia, Art defined as: I. the study of an individual work of art outside time and place or II. The study of art in its historical context Are these definitions linked to a Western or Eastern perspective? 4

Western Civilization When discussing the term ‘western Europe in the Stone civilization’, it is Age typically meant as a reference to Europe’s development and it’s influences. In this class, we must keep in mind what or who’s perspective of this development we are including. Historically, history itself has been dominantly told through western eyes. This has caused a narrow ethnocentric view on the world and Europe’s place in history. Knowing this can allow us to be better informed about the ever changing world of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 5

But the concept of inclusivity has not resonated as deeply in the field of history, as it has in the art community in general. Therefore, what and how things are discussed can and will be affected by the more information we encounter through cultural exchange, technology, and just good old fashion time. Remember, as time passes, scientific exploration evolves and re-adjusts itself. History is no different. So, when and how art is made is speculative. 6

We; not them. This image should be a reminder of whom we are referring when speaking of prehistory. We often forget our connection to the distant past. We should view the following images with a sense of looking at ourselves, not just some artifact in a cold and sterile museum. Finding some connectedness is important in these discoveries.

Chapter One 8

Goals for this chapter include: • Appreciate the enormous span of time represented by the prehistoric period (the longest period in art's history). • Recognize that many of the works of art probably were thought to have some kind of magical power in the affairs of humanity and the cosmos. • Learn of the divisions into which historians have placed the flow of time in the prehistoric period. • Gain an understanding of the stylistic changes that accompanied the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic period. • Grasp the fundamentals of the techniques involved in early art production. 9

Prehistoric Europe and the Near East 10

Oldest human, or oldest human ever found? You may remember Lucy, who, at one time, was declared the oldest human found to date. She lived over three million years ago. http: //lucyexhibition. com/lucys-discovery. aspx

She was found just outside of Hadar, which creates even more questions: • How is she found in West Africa, yet linked to Europe? • How do we know she is that old? • Could there be older humans found in the future? • How do we know there is a link between this human and the humans of today? 12

When art historians refer to prehistoric art, they are typically referring to the art of the early Homo sapiens or “wise humans”. This is often described as a pale skinned male, hunched back, communicating with grunt sounds, spear in hand, and is often found engaged with a crude hunting activity. But what they are really referring to is our own development as ennobled creatures. 13

Homo sapien Wise human 14

One thing that distinguishes us from other mammals is the ability to think, create and express on such a higher level than any other creature. However inaccurate the description, Homo sapiens were indeed hunters and gatherers. Early Man (mankind) spent several energies around animals; observing, hunting, and utilizing every part of them. 15

The term “Stone Age” comes from the stone items found. Paleo-lithic Period Lower/ Middle/ Upper 42000 to 37000 years ago to the beginning of Ice Age (9000 -8000 BCE) Meso-lithic Period (9000 -6000 BCE) Ice Age in Europe mostly under glaciers between Upper Paleo-lithic and Neo-lithic Period 11000 and 8000 years ago <These are all rounded assessments of dates because of varying developments in environments change> 16

Cave Art Lascaux cave dwelling What kind of animals can be identified? 17

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Bull, Bison, horses, and rhinoceroses, wall painting in Chauvet Cave Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, Ardèche, France, ca. 30, 000– 28, 000 or ca. 15, 000– 13, 000 BCE. Approx. half lifesize. 19

Sculpture in the Round and Relief 20

Sculpture in the round refers to any sculpture that is completely detached from its original material so that it can be seen from all sides 21

Probably the most famous sculpture. 22

Relief refers to pieces that are more pictoral than sculpture in the round because some of the original material remains and forms a background plane. 23

There are different degrees of relief • High relief- the image stands out far from the background plane • Low relief- the surface of the image is closer to the background • Sunken relief- the image or outline is slightly recessed into the surface plane 24

Other Sculptural Terms • Modeling- is an additive process with the use of materials that are pliable (like clay) rather than hard stone. The tools used are the artist’s hands • Carving – considered subtractive • Incising – the carving of lines 25

Speculations of what the art reveals about the society: • Developments of abstraction • Matriarchal society or dominated by women • Presumptions of the validity of the names 26

Male Female 27

Neo-lithic Period: • Shift from hunting and gathering to farming led to a more settled existence- this contributed to the development of a new art form: Monumental stone architecture. • Rock shelter Art • Henge- circle of stones or posts often surrounded by a ditch 28

Stonehenge 2750 -1500 BCE • Theories on meaning and use are vast • Provided new technologies; how to build and transport stone • Science and prehistoric art • Heel stone- astrological? • Sun - Vernal Equinox 29

Detail major trilithon, from NW Post and Lintel © 2005 Saskia Cultural Documentation, Ltd. 30

Heel Stone 31