Prehistoric Art & Art History: Quick Notes

Prehistoric Art: Key Facts

  • Art before written records; hundreds of caves worldwide preserve paintings.
  • Began around 65,00065{,}000 years ago; common motifs include herd animals, humans, and hand stencils.
  • Art expresses fundamentally human needs: religion/spirituality, community, power, and survival through food/resources.
  • Prehistoric people did not live deep inside caves; deep caves likely used for rituals and viewing older images, while living at cave entrances.

What Is Art History? Key Concepts

  • Art history studies visual culture, objects, built environments; art can move viewers emotionally or intellectually via visuals and craft.
  • Art vs history is not fixed; history is a narrative built from surviving evidence and interpretation; all history is shaped by the author and context.
  • Historians and art historians use evidence from archives, artifacts, and contexts (climate, economy, resources) to interpret past art and cultures.

Interdisciplinary Nature

  • Roles in practice: archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, photographers, digital humanities experts, conservators.
  • Digital humanities bring high-resolution images, 3D reconstructions, open-access resources, and online catalogs.
  • Conservation preserves artworks for future scholars and public.

Important Examples & Dates

  • Chauvet Cave, France: paintings dated to about 30,00030{,}000 BCE.
  • Other French cave paintings around 15,00015{,}000 BCE; shows long timelines within the same region.
  • Subjects include rhinoceros, buffalo/bison, cave lions, and hand stencils (possibly many hands were female, per ongoing research).
  • Techniques referenced: hollow bone tracing and natural pigments (ochres, charcoal).

In Situ, Replicas & Access

  • In situ = in the original place; cave artworks were meant to be viewed in their original context.
  • Deep caves are not open to the public to prevent damage from breath, humidity, and other disturbances; replicas and digital tours provide access.
  • Replicas (e.g., Lascaux) and Chauvet digital tours allow experiencing the art without harming originals.

Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams

  • 2010 documentary about Chauvet paintings; team includes archaeologists, photographers, videographers.
  • The film demonstrates how light, movement, and the cave surfaces animate the artworks beyond still images.
  • Highlights the value of in situ viewing and interdisciplinary collaboration; access to the actual caves is restricted for preservation.

Digital Humanities & Open Access Resources

  • Digital reconstructions and virtual tours enable study and public engagement without damaging sites.
  • Open-access resources allow scholars and the public to explore high-quality images and reconstructions.

Preparation & Next Steps

  • Next class: begin art-historical analysis of prehistoric figurines; discussion and interpretation tasks.
  • Syllabus quiz due by Sunday; readings will emphasize critical reading of historians and author perspectives.