Art History

Art history builds off the movement before it, or rebells against it.

***Early Neanderthals evolved into early humans causing chemical changes ultimately leading to creative expression.

Artistic expression started visually first before leading to writing or spoken creativity.

Early paintings were first discovered in the 1800s by people exploring deep into caves leading to the belief that the paintings were meant to be enjoyed spiritually.

Paintings connecting with the natural world (built off natural rock formations) are thought to be a good omen to those creating them.

Different Aries of the caves could result in different reasons or designations to the creator.

Early humans may have believed connecting themselves with animals would connect them with the spiritual world.

Hunter Gatherers focus solely on survival and movement

***Urban life was built off the domestication of plants and animals aka SPECIALIZATION (stationary food gathering…end of Hunter Gatherers)

Early statues had purposes whether it be hoping for safety or protection in certain events. (Fertility Idols ensure safe births)

***Sculpture purposes are known through the over expression of proportions or features.

Early homes were made out of bone and light fabric (hides).

Spirits were kept in the home to signify a place after death. (as well as the burial of bones and decoration of skulls lead to the belief of an afterlife)

***Ladders are the first step to iPhones lol (People are advancing and beginning to work together to problem solve).

Religious “Shrines” are seen throughout homes potentially as good omens or religious beliefs.

Tombs are locations where many older and more detailed sculptures are.

Information was conveyed through natural elements such as the sun (sunlight and shadows convey time and harvest seasons).

VOCABULARY:

Paleolithic - early period of the Stone Age

Upper Paleolithic (fully modern humans) (Ice Age - end of the Ice Age)

Lower & Middle Paleolithic (Stone Age - homo genera - used stone tools)

Optical Images - showing an animal as one would see it

Composite Image - offering details that represent the animal conveyed, however not anatomically correct

Shamanism - belief that a spiritual world could be accessed

Neolithic Period - New Stone Age (10,000 BCE) (people are living more permanent lifestyles (SPECIALIZATION), domesticating plants & animals rather than hunting & gathering)

Megaliths - large blocks of stone

Menhirs - upright megaliths

Post & Lintel - the trilithic arrangement of two upright stones and a capstone. |-| <— Stones

Trilithic Arrangement - three stone formation

Cromlechs - megaliths arranged in circles (Stonehenge)