-
Paleolithic Art (c. 40,000-10,000 BCE) consists of portable carvings, cave paintings, and sculpted figurines which feature animals and people with symbolic meaning. Some common themes within paleolithic art would be survival, hunts, fertility, ritual practices through the use of stone, bones, ivory, and paints. Paleolithic art transmits stories of our early hunter-gatherer ancestors through their natural endeavors, allowing us to comprehend their understanding of their religion and culture.
-
The Venus of Dolní Věstonice depicts a small feminine figurine with exaggerated breasts, hips, and belly, clearly emphasizing a reoccurring theme of fertility during the Paleolithic era. This sculpture is also one of the earliest known clay fired ceramics, highlighting the ritual practices of the upper paleolithic communities and even features a fingerprint of a child embedded on its surface. -
The Bradshaw Rock Paintings demonstrate human figures with elegance, clothed with ornaments, tassels, and sashes, symbolizing the heirarchies that took place during the time. These artworks were tucked away in ancient rock shelters and are considered one of the earliest recordings of a cultural significance in a community, highlighting themes of ancient social order along with law. -
The Nourlangie Rock Art displays vivid paintings that spans from thousands of years, the subjects in these paintings, had long limbs along with very expressive facial expressions. The images surrounding the subjects in the photo display fish and wallabies that were made using natural pigments, emphasizing development of connection and movement between communities.. -
The symbolic and even functional works created by very early agricultural cultures, such as megalithic structures, pottery, carvings, and figurines is what defines Neolithic Art (c. 10,000-2,000 BCE). Themes within Neolithic Art would be fertility, cultural rituals, life and death. The communal and spiritual life of early settling communities is conveyed within Neolithic art, which internationally emerged when agriculture came about, giving us insight on early human practices.
-
The Ain Ghazal Statue (c. 6500) was formed over a skeleton of reed, then covered with plaster, and had bitumen painted eyes. The statues would be laid out under the floors of homes, which emphasize how these figures may have served a key role in the Neolithic themes of spirituality and life during this era. -
The Adam of Macedonia (c. 6000 BCE) is one of the oldest human figurines ever found, the figurine demonstrates a sat male torso with detailed human anatomy which highlights the exceptional artistic skill despite the era. The detail in anatomy and posture of the statue emphasizes the theme of male spirituality and the role of a man within Neolithic Macedonian culture. -
The Tumba Madžari Figurines (c. 5500 BCE) are clay figures that were most likely used as altars, which had projected breasts, open arms, and large eyes. The feminine figure along with the cubic base suggests a connection between home and a mother-like protector, highlighting themes of fertility. -
Ancient Near Eastern Art is the development of artistic traditions that happened in during 5500 BCE to 330 BCE. In this type of art we can see many reoccurring themes of religion and politics, reinforcing the emphasis on authority during this time period. We can see many sculptures of kings, gods, and even mythological being during this era of art.
-
The Skara Brae Carved Stone Objects (c. 3200 BCE) are very detailed stone balls which showcase the artistic prowess of the Neolithic community in Orkney, Scotland. The symbolic role of these objects potentially indicates a status of power within their communities, emphasizing the theme of prestige and ceremonial practice in Neolithic Orkney. -
The Westray Wife (c. 3000 BCE) is the only known Neolithic carving of a human that was discovered within Scotland, it featured breasts, arms, and facial details which conveys that it is a female figure. The markings on this artwork such as possible hair and even attire demonstrates Neolithic themes of human identity and symbolic attire. -
The Investiture of Zimri-Lim (c. 1775 BCE) displays beliefs of divine authority that was held within the Mesopotamian civilization, meaning that their political rulers positions were legitimized through the favor of the gods. The artwork shows the king receiving power from a goddess, it highlights how the concepts of religion and politics were united. -
The Statue of Queen Napier-Asu (c. 1340 BCE) is an embodiment of the power of political authority for the time, the statue had a bronze core weighing in at over 1,700 kg, reflecting the persistence of the royal power in the Elamite society. The durability and the posture of the statue highlights everlasting stability along with the concept of the divine right to rule for political leaders during this time period.