Prehistoric Art

This set of flashcards covers key concepts, themes, periods, and techniques related to Prehistoric art and its development.

What is the Prehistoric period known for?

It is the time before recorded history, characterized by the first human artistic representations.

How is Prehistoric art categorized?

Prehistoric art is categorized into three periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

What are the time frames for the three Prehistoric periods?

1. Paleolithic: 2,500,000 to 15,000 BCE; 2. Mesolithic: 15,000 to 10,000 BCE; 3. Neolithic: 10,000 to 6,000-4,000 BCE.

What are the primary themes in Paleolithic art?

Paleolithic art prominently features themes of food (hunting scenes, animal carvings) and fertility (Venus figurines).

What is significant about cave paintings from the Upper Paleolithic period?

Upper Paleolithic paintings marked the beginning of fine arts, including drawing, modeling, sculpture, and paintings, representing a leap in human cognition.

What techniques did Paleolithic artists use?

They used natural materials, finger painting, stone tools, and spray-painting techniques with reeds or hollow bones.

What were some common pigments used in Paleolithic art?

Artists commonly used black and red pigments derived from clay ochre and charcoal for their artworks.

What are petroglyphs?

Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings created during the Lower Paleolithic period, notably found in regions like central India.

What is the importance of the paintings found in Lascaux?

Lascaux cave paintings are famous for their significant artistic complexity and provide insight into Upper Paleolithic art.

What were two notable examples of Lower Paleolithic figurines?

The Venus of Berkhat Ram and the Venus of Tan-Tan are notable Lower Paleolithic figurines dated between 200,000 and 500,000 BCE.