Great Hall of the Bulls

(1) (2) Great Hall of the Bulls. Prehistoric European. Rock painting. 15,000 – 13,000

BCE. Lascaux, France. Large bull: 17’. Prehistoric.

Content, Form, Function, Context

Form:

 Paint made from natural materials: charcoal, ore, plants, berries; then mixed with animal

fat and saliva

o Sprayed on through tubes of bone, or swabbed on with fur or brushes (reeds/sticks)

 Scaffolding was made to reach the tops of the caves (holes have been found in the walls)

 No ground or horizon line – animals float in space (negative space surrounds them)

 Animals are in profile but also twisted perspective (heads in profile, horns from front)

 Natural contours of the walls help to create a 3D feel

 Animals were painted with naturalism: there is attention to anatomical details/unique

characteristics

 Superimposed figures: “herd of beasts” was not artist’s intent; result of new artists

painting over old works

Function:

 Site-specific: made specifically for this place; artist considered the setting in its creation

 Older interpretation: didactic, teach new hunters and young boys how to hunt; ensure a

successful hunt

o Explains the variety of animals on ceiling, and the wide range of life cycles shown

o Does NOT take into account archaeological evidence on the floor

 Current/new interpretation: used for animal worship/rituals

o Likely for animal fertility and natural bounty

 For humans to survive, animals have to thrive  rituals often focused upon

guaranteeing that outcome

 This is why the images are of prey  these are the species humans will be

hunting

o Likely an example of shamanism (religious practice that says forces of nature can

be contacted by a shaman/intermediary)

o Likely explains why they were tucked into the back of the cave; they are powerful

and thus needed to be protected

Content:

 Hall of the Bulls is one room in the cave complex

 650 paintings throughout entire cave; 36 different animals

o Almost all prey, not predators: mostly cows, bulls, horses, deer, stags, bison

o All animals have been identified to species level (even extinct species)

o Phases of animal life shown; some are even pregnant

 Abstract designs and handprints included

Context:

 Caves discovered in 1940 when an 18-year old’s dog fell into a hole and he went to rescue

him

 Caves were not permanent dwellings; peoples were migratory (Paleolithic)

o Paintings were deep and recessed into the caves

o Likely a space groups came to annually

o For humans to survive, animals have to thrive  rituals often focused upon

guaranteeing that outcome

o Seems to be a bountiful area that groups fought to control

 Completed by many artists over 2,000 years

o Area was constantly fought over due to its natural abundance of animal life and

plant life

o Sign of dominance (one group paints over another’s art), rather than a single artist

trying to show a heard of animals

o Artists used stone lamps with fat and fur to light caves

Learning Objective: Prehistoric cave art

Themes: animals; ritual; site-specific; fertility; cycle of life; ceremony; changing interpretations