Art Timeline

By jyrzx
  • Upper Paleolithic Art, Venus of Hohle Fels, 35,000 BCE, 6-7.5 cm, mammoth ivory, Prehistoric Museum of Blaubeuren
    35,000 BCE

    Upper Paleolithic Art, Venus of Hohle Fels, 35,000 BCE, 6-7.5 cm, mammoth ivory, Prehistoric Museum of Blaubeuren

    Discovered in Germany, a mammoth ivory carving of a large woman whom they called a Venus. She is headless with a small hook where her head should be, implying she is worn. It was likely worn to portray fertility or perhaps to encourage it.
  • Period: 30,000 BCE to 12,000 BCE

    Paleolithic Art

    The Paleolithic Era lasted from about 3.3 million years BCE to roughly 12,000 BCE. It is one of the earliest of human art that we have from the Old Stone Age. Paleolithic art is mainly recognized by cave paintings, engravings, and small, portable sculptures. Often made from natural materials like stone and pigment. It features abstract symbols, animals, beliefs, and some human figures.
  • Magdalenian culture, Bison Licking Insect Bite, 14,000 BCE, reindeer antler4" x 2.67", National Museum of Prehistory
    14,000 BCE

    Magdalenian culture, Bison Licking Insect Bite, 14,000 BCE, reindeer antler4" x 2.67", National Museum of Prehistory

    This is a small sculpture of a bison licking its side, or some think it is licking an insect bite. It is likely believed to have served as part of a spear-thrower. The actual purpose of the sculpture is unknown, but it is seen as an incredible depiction of the carver's attention to animal behavior.
  • Magdalenian culture, Sorcerer of Trois Freres, 13,000-15,000 BCE, charcoal, 29.5" x 19.69", Les Trois-Frères cave
    13,000 BCE

    Magdalenian culture, Sorcerer of Trois Freres, 13,000-15,000 BCE, charcoal, 29.5" x 19.69", Les Trois-Frères cave

    This is an ancient cave painting of what seems to be a composition of many creatures. This shows us that people during that time had spiritual beliefs, providing us with further insight on possible explanations to their behaviors.
  • Neolithic culture, Ain Ghazal Figures, 7200–6250 BCE, lime plaster, 35cm - 104 cm, Amman, Jordan
    7200 BCE

    Neolithic culture, Ain Ghazal Figures, 7200–6250 BCE, lime plaster, 35cm - 104 cm, Amman, Jordan

    These are a wide variety of carved figures that were discovered at a Neolithic settlement near Amman, Jordan. They likely served a ritualistic purpose. They were very carefully buried, suggesting that they represented possibly dieties or people of status/importance.
  • Period: 6999 BCE to 17,000 BCE

    Neolithic Age

    The Neolithic Era marks the significant time when humans retired their nomadic lifestyle and began to settle into more permanent civilizations. We begin to see larger and more intricate sculptures and art works, as they had more time to focus on them. This is also where a lot of new lifestyles were adapted, people became better at farming and could actually take the time to expand their families.
  • Hamangia culture, Thinker of Hamangia, fired clay, 4.5" x 3", National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest
    5000 BCE

    Hamangia culture, Thinker of Hamangia, fired clay, 4.5" x 3", National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest

    This small sculpture is representing a man deep in thought. He sits on a small chair with his arms supporting his head. He was discovered along with his female counterpart, the Sitting Woman. She sits with her arms on one knee. These two may have been used as indicators of the complex thinking that this civilization was beginning to experience.
  • Hongshan, Jade coiled Dragon, 4700 BC-2500 BC, 2.25" x 4", Trustees of the British Museum
    3500 BCE

    Hongshan, Jade coiled Dragon, 4700 BC-2500 BC, 2.25" x 4", Trustees of the British Museum

    This Jade Coiled Dragon is sometimes also called the "Coiled Zulong Pig Dragon". Jade at this time was relatively rare and valuable. It is believed that Jade ornaments were usually made to be worn or used as jewelry. It further represents the extensive time that settling allowed people to have.