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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pre-Dynastic Period Art (c. 5000 BCE-3000 BCE) included many examples of early wall paintings, pottery, figurines, and even decorated palettes, demonstrating Egypt's developing culture. During this period we are able to see different types of themes in the artwork, some being power, fertility, and examples of the preparation for the afterlife. Pre-Dynastic art underscores the development of agricultural communities up to a more developed society that would later on define what we know as Egypt.
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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. -
Within the Palette of Narmer (c. 3000 BCE) we can see a pharaoh that ruled around 3100 BCE wearing two crowns from different regions of Egypt. The blend of the two crowns highlights themes of harmony and control under his rule, also demonstrating the concept of the divine right to rule. Buis, Alena. “Predynastic and Early Dynastic Art Lesson.” Bccampus.ca, Pressbooks, 2019, pressbooks.bccampus.ca/cavestocathedrals/chapter/predynastic-and-early-dynastic-art-lesson -
Within Old Kingdom Art (c. 2686 BCE-2150 BCE) we can observe many examples of statues, pyramids, tomb paintings, and relief carvings. Some reoccurring themes that we can see in this era of art would be the divine right to rule, along with the afterlife. Egyptians during this era demonstrated how pharaohs kept Egypt under control through statues made of materials such as granite, copper, and limestone in order to create a longer lasting effect on their glory.
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The Striding Figure (c. 2500 BCE) highlights themes of masculinity and power during the Old Kingdom era, it shows a powerful man with bold features, such as a broad collar and moustache. It highlights a regional style of artwork from southern sites like El Kab, distinct from works at Giza and Saqqara Prakash, Tara. “Egypt in the Old Kingdom (Ca. 2649–2130 B.C.) - the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” Metmuseum.org, Feb. 2019, www.metmuseum.org/essays/egypt-in-the-old-kingdom-ca-2649-2150-b-c. -
Within Middle Kingdom Art (c. 2030 BCE-1640 BCE) there is many examples of jewelry, sculptures, and decorations on tombs which underscored the stability that Egypt was experiencing during this era. Reoccurring themes during this period is the day-to-day life of Egyptians, pharaohs, and the afterlife but with much more emphasis and detail in comparison to previous generations of artworks.
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The Statue of the Overseer of Stonemasons Senbebu and Family (c. 1900 BCE) is a statue unlike others, it demonstrates officers in the middle ranks of Egyptian hierarchy. The artwork underscores the development of professional identity during this era, showing how not only pharaohs had great influence. Oppenheim, Adela. “Egypt in the Middle Kingdom (Ca. 2030–1650 B.C.) - the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” Metmuseum.org, Feb. 2019, www.metmuseum.org/essays/egypt-in-the-middle-kingdom-2030-1640-b-c. -
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 New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BCE) was well known as an era in which Egypt in which they held a high amount of power. Art during this time became much more detailed, there was more use of colors and artworks looked much more realistic. Some common themes during this era would be religion, power, and the afterlife. Some recurring artworks during this era would be wall paintings, stone carvings, along with statues.
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Egypt’s, Temple of Hatshepsut (c. 1465), was made with symmetrical features which include ramps, colonnades carved into limestone, and reliefs showing achievement. The artwork was constructed during Egypt’s New Kingdom, the monument highlights the connection between humans and gods, political stability, and the rise of female power. Egyptian. Temple of Hatshepsut. 1465 BCE. Deir el-Bahri
https://www.memphis.edu/egypt/resources/colortour/westbank3.php -
Ancient Egypts, Bust of Nefertiti (c. 1345 BCE), highlights the change of perspective that Egypt went through in terms of ideal beauty through engravings, vibrancy, and perfection. The artwork work underscores Egypts shift to more natural looking artworks along with religious and political changes. Egyptian. Bust of Nerfetiti. 1345 BCE. Neuse Museum, Berlin.
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/aegyptisches-museum-und-papyrussammlung/collection-research/bust-of-nefertiti/the-bust/ -
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. -
Within Ancient Egypt's, Akhenaten and His Family, limestone relief artwork we are able to observe Queen Nefertiti, pharaoh Akhenaten, and their daughters under the god of sun, Aten. This specific artwork resembles more of a humane perspective of the royal family of this era, unlike other artworks that try to emphasize dominance and divinity. Egyptian. Akhenaten and His Family. 1340 BCE. Egyptian Museum Berlin.
https://egypt-museum.com/house-altar-of-akhenaten-and-his-family/ -
This iconic gold mask of the New Kingdom era of Ancient Egypt was inlaid with precious stones and engulfed King Tutankhamun's mummified body, we now identify it as Tutankhamun's Funerary Mask (c. 1323). The artwork underscores King Tut's divine perfection along with his eternal spirit that lives on in the afterlife. Egyptian. Tutankhamun’s Funerary Mask. 1323 BCE. Egyptian Museum, Clairo.
https://egyptianmuseumcairo.eg/artefacts/mask-of-tutankhamun/ -
Divinity and power over Egypt is what the Temple of Ramses II (c. 1260 BCE) displays, the Egyptians created huge pharaohs in hopes of portraying these concepts for Ramses II's throughout Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom Era. The monument gives us a glimpse into King Ramses II's dominance and his desire of exhibiting his divine right to rule. Egyptian. Temple of Ramses II. 1260 BCE. Abu Simbel, Egypt.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Abu-Simbel -
The Etruscan Art Period, lasting from 800-100 BCE, was filled with lively art styles and vibrancy that influences Roman culture. Terracotta sculptures, bronze word, paintings, and decorated sarcophagi were common forms of art from this era. Etruscan era art had a lot of emphasis on death, daily life, and religion which displayed their strong fate in the afterlife. Funerary practices, religion, and human emotion were all common themes in the art of this era.
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Within the Archiac Period (650-480 BCE) we can see a display of evolution in Greek culture and art. This era has reoccurring themes of religion, athleticism, and mythology. We can also observe how artists took a more naturalistic form in their work, contrast full from the earlier rigid style. Pottery with black-figures, kouros and kore statues, red-figure techniques, and architectural sculptures were common artworks of this era.
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Within the Early Classical Period (480 - 450 BCE) the Greek artists swayed towards a more naturalistic and harmonious form of making art. Some common themes of the artworks during this era consisted of the human body, mythology, heroism, and religion. Marble and bronze statues were also very prominent forms of art during this era, many of which had an emphasis on natural movements, harmonious proportions, and ideal human forms.
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During the High Classical Period (450 - 400 BCE) we can observe what is widely considered at the peak of Greek artistic achievement. Art became more detailed, had more idealized figures, and had a stronger sense of harmony. Common artworks during this era consisted of marble sculptures grand architectural projects like the Parthenon, and detailed friezes. Some common themes that existed would be idealized beauty, religion, and mythology.
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Within the Late Classical Period (400 -323 BCE) we can observe how the artwork of this era had much more focus on the individuality of people along with their expression. The Greek artists of this period shifted away from the pre-existing perfectionism in art and focused more on the depth of human emotion along with more natural poses in their artwork. Some reoccurring themes that we are able to see would be human emotion and beauty.
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Hellenistic Period Art (323 to -31 BCE) consisted of many detailed, highly expressive, and very detailed artworks. Some artworks that we can see in this era would be mosaics, architectural decorations, and marble and bronze sculptures. Common themes of this period consists of emotion, power, and mythology. Greek artists during this era emphasizes emotion, realism, movement, dynamic poses, and intense scenes in their art.
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The Winged Victory of Samothrace (c. 180 BCE) captures movement, power, triumph, and even a timeless sense of elegancy, honoring the naval victory of a goddess by the name of Nike. Its dramatic pose and drapery emphasizes the focus on realism and emotion of the artists of the time. Greek: Hellenistic Period, Winged Victory of Samothrace. 190 BCE. Louvre Museum, Paris.
https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/a-stairway-to-victory