(Pre-Historic)
The periods of development in Prehistoric man's artistic growth are very uncertain.
Many paleontologists give conflicting opinions regarding chronological accuracy, new discoveries are causing continual revision of established theories.
It is difficult to identify the point at which artistic achievement can be separated from utilitarian implements.
The generally accepted starting point of art objects is with the species Homo-Sapiens who appeared at the end of the ice age in the areas of the Mediterranean Basin 25,000 to 20,000 BC, although paintings in caves exist which are believed to date as early as 60,000 BC.
Paleolithic Age (Early Stone Age)
(50,000 to 10,000 BC)
The cradle of Western Civilization is the Mediterranean Basin which in the ice ages was an inland sea. As the ice receded from Europe, man migrated in tribes into areas of Spain and Southern France. These areas were rich in caves which provided natural shelter to these hunters whose sole concern was with the necessities of life. It is logical then that the art of these people should be concerned with their struggle for survival. The subject matter they printed and drew are those animals which provided food - Bison, Horse, Reindeer, and Mammoth. Plants, birds, and small animals and dangerous animals were not shown. These paintings served a special function and were not art for art's sake.
Secret rites and ceremonies were performed in front of the cave paintings of animals which would be hunted on the following day. In performing an imaginary hunt the hunters sought to gain power over the animals that their survival depended on. These ceremonies wereheld deep in the cave - never near the entrance, and only men participated. Woman and children were not allowed in. (c/f Australian also, who has continued these ceremonies for men only until our own time)
Early Paleolithic drawings and paintings were naturalistic and incised and drawn on the rockface. The concept was entirely linear -i.e. outline. Later a feeling for plasticity developed in some regions and animals were painted in earth colours - yellow, red, brown and charcoal mixed in animal fat. Foreshortening of limbs andbody's was attempted and anexcellent feel for the complete animal is evident. However no sence of composing groups of animal or depictings of man himself is seen.
A small quantity of poor quality sculpture was produced and no architecture is known to have existed.
Mesolithic (middle stone age)
(10,000 to 5,000 B.C)
This was an age of transition. Men were still hunters and fishers,but they began to take an interest in their personal adornment. The human figure began to appear in their drawings and simple, groupings of animals and humans in hunting scenes appeared. A linear style was used which lost much of the plasticity or solidity of the later paleolithic times
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Neolithic (new stone age)
(5,000 B.C - onwards)
A great change took place. The ice cap dissappeared from central Europe and along with it animals of the ice ages, mammoth, reindeer and bison. Vegetation grew and man learnt to sow seeds and harvest crops for food. An age of agriculture began. In order to live in this manner it was necessary to stay in the one place and the first permanent habitations were established.
The new way of living gave time to comtemplate or think about things - weather, seasons, sun, and moon, natural disaster, fertility and pro-creation. - all of these being abstract concepts - things not readily observed.
Naturalism was abandoned and stylized or geometric forms were drawn and painted. Beliefs became centered on eternal and lasting ideas instead of day to day existance. In this period the great religions of the world were first formed - Judaism, Vedaism (Brahmanism and Hinduism) and Shintoism in Japan and Taoism in China.
Bronze and Irom ages
In the new stone age the skills of metallurgy were developed. The bronze age (3,500 B.C) was followed by the iron age (1,400 B.C) the use of these metals originating in Asia and spreading west to Europe.
Painting in the Neolithic - Iron age period involved stylized human and animal figures and geometric decoration which had religious symbolism.
In sculpture, the new metals introduced new possibilities in casting bronze and iron. Religious and burial figures were made for use in ceremonies to the dead and for request for fertility for crops and herds.
In architecture the first positive forms appear - the giant stone dolemans, cairns, barrows, menhirs and chromlechs (eg; stonehenge). Minor arts of pottery and bronze casting of vessels and weapons and things of adornment showed geometric decorations and stylized animals.