Overview
This lecture covers the origins and characteristics of Western prehistoric art, focusing on European cave paintings and portable artifacts, along with their possible purposes and interpretations.
Prehistoric Art: Definition and Context
- Western arts include the literary, performing, and visual arts of Europe and similar cultures.
- Prehistory refers to the period before written records began.
- The earliest evidence of human art comes from Spain and France, notably in the Lascaux and Chauvet caves.
Characteristics of Prehistoric Cave Art
- Around 400 artworks have been found deep inside French caves.
- The purpose of these artworks may have been communication, religious, or ceremonial.
- Ritual burial evidence suggests a spiritual component to prehistoric life.
- Most cave paintings depict large Ice Age animals like deer, bison, lions, horses, and mammoths.
- Some paintings are layered or contain arrow piercings, possibly related to hunting rituals.
Types and Creation of Prehistoric Art
- Prehistoric art is classified as stationary (immovable, e.g., cave paintings) or portable (small, transportable objects).
- Stationary art exists mostly as Paleolithic cave paintings in Western Europe.
- Paints were made from minerals, burnt bone, charcoal, and mixed with water, blood, fat, or sap.
- Cave art is largely non-figurative (symbolic), with animals drawn realistically but humans as stick figures or absent.
- Portable art includes small figurines or decorated objects made from stone, bone, antler, or clay.
Venus Figurines and Interpretations
- Many portable figurines, called "Venus," depict robust female forms, likely symbolizing fertility, prosperity, or tribe expansion.
- Scientists debate the meaning of cave art, suggesting shamanistic rituals or early symbolic communication systems.
- Repeated patterns or figures might represent an early alphabet or code.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prehistory — period before written records.
- Stationary Art — art that is immovable, like cave paintings.
- Portable Art — small, movable objects like figurines.
- Venus Figurines — prehistoric female figurines symbolizing fertility or prosperity.
- Non-figurative Art — art featuring symbolic rather than realistic elements.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of cave paintings and Venus figurines.
- Consider theories on the purposes and meanings of prehistoric art for discussion.