Cave Paintings
It all started with a man, a rock and some pigment. Now we call them cave paintings. Cave paintings, sometimes referred to as rock art, are one of the first art forms known to man. A traditional European cave painting showcases a variety of historic animals, sometimes accompanied by a human figure. Most animals found in cave art range from dangerous predators like cave lions and bears to giant beasts like mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses. Less intimidating animals like the ibex, horses, and bison are also often portrayed on the walls in herds. Handprints and shapes appear on some earlier cave walls. These cave paintings are traditionally made of red or black pigments. The reds are made from iron oxides, whereas charcoal is used for the blacks. (Clottes, Cave) These paintings are made with flint tools and fingers, depending on the wall of the cave. Most artists would usually sand away the wall with rocks and sand to make the surface flatter and easier to paint on. Cave paintings are also believed to have religious purposes that tie in with Shamanic beliefs and practices. As a part of these beliefs, the artists had to paint in the dark by torchlight. (Clottes, Chauvet) This is why most cave paintings are located deep in caves and not right by the entrances.
One specific cave that is filled with beautiful cave art is the Chauvet-Pont d’Arc located in Southeast France. This cave not only has a great variety of animal representation but is also astonishingly old and well preserved. Interestingly, the cave was not used for residence, rather it hosted many religious and celebratory ceremonies. The caves visitors even decorated their cozy meet-up with animal skulls and bones, particularly cave bear remains, that had occupied the cave thousands of years before them. These people were certainly well versed in art and their culture and expressed it beautifully.
Sources
Clottes, Jean. “Cave Art”. Britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, 5 October, 2018. Web. 16 January, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/art/cave-painting
Clottes, Jean. “Chauvet-Pont d’Arc”. Britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, 27 May, 2015. Web. 16 January, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/place/Chauvet-Pont-dArc
Marchant, Jo. “A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World”. Smithsonianmag.com. Smithsonian Magazine, January 2016. Web. 14 January, 2020. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journey-oldest-cave-paintings-world-180957685/
Clottes, Jean. “Chauvet-Pont d’Arc”. Britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, 27 May, 2015. Web. 16 January, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/place/Chauvet-Pont-dArc
Marchant, Jo. “A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World”. Smithsonianmag.com. Smithsonian Magazine, January 2016. Web. 14 January, 2020. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journey-oldest-cave-paintings-world-180957685/