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The Paleolithic period marks the first artistic expression from man. The pieces discovered were mainly ornamentation and small idol like figures that were easily transported around on your person. These were pieces like the Female Figure of Hohlefels. Later the form developed into cave paintings such as those at Altamira, Lascaux and Chauvet. Style was primarily naturalism and realism, with subject matter of animals and humans. This period largely seems to have a religious or spiritual purpose.
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c. 38,000-33,000 BCE, Carved Mammoth Tusk, 2.4"h, Blaubeuren, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. The "Venus" is significant as it is the oldest prehistoric carving that we have to date and speaks to the cultural development of mankind. (Archaeology World Team) It is widely believed that these pieces were used as a symbol of fertility and the carvings where the head should be located indicated it was perhaps worn as a necklace or charm. -
c. 30,000 BCE, Rock Art, varied sizes, Ardeche Department, Southern France. The Chauvet Caves house what is known to be the earliest rendition of cave paintings. Known for their uncharacteristically large size, as well as artistic techniques that were not represented in later cave paintings. Some of these paintings even boast a 3D quality using the curves and forms of the cave. The art found here is extremely complex in content even compared to later works. (Muffet Jones) -
c. 35,000-30,000 BCE, limestone, 4.4” Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. This figure represents a vast range of "Venus" carvings that have been discovered across Europe. These carvings offer us a glimpse into prehistoric life and what man found important to immortalize into art. The nature seems to suggest qualities such as life, fertility, prosperity, and health. Taking the time to carve such intricacies means these carvings had extreme value to the holder. -
Bison, c. 18,000 BCE, Rock Art, Great Hall of Plicromes, Altamira, Spain. Like much of the other works of cave paintings, the paintings at Altamira are focused on the natural world. What is interesting about the "Bison" is the technique in which pigments of varied intensity were used to create chiaroscuro. Using this technique creates a far more rendered image and begins to show development in artistic expression. -
"Hall of Bulls", c. 17,000 BCE, Rock Art, Caves of Lascaux, France. One of the most well-known works of Paleolithic art, the Caves of Lascaux have intrigued researchers and viewers alike for a very long time. The "Hall of the Bulls" is fascinating to me as you appear to run with the bulls through the hallway. This opens up many ritualistic possibilities and practices that could have taken place here as you move through and almost become one with the animal.