![]() These focuses make the decision to paint in caves a curious one, as at the time of the artwork’s creation, humans were non-sedentary beings, and painting caves would have proved to be an inconvenient and practically unnecessary process in comparison to their other portable painting surfaces considering the fact that the art would have had to be abandoned. Rocks, animal leather, and even themselves are among their many subjects. The natural preservation that caves provide has protected the art from time and nature, giving the people of today the possibility to see them, yet prehistoric artists as they can be called painted much more than caves. Furthermore, it is evident from the intricate and vast drawings on even the most difficult to access points of the caves that tools and scaffolding were made to aid in the creation of such art, emphasizing the importance they placed on the practice. Photo of a portion of the Lascaux cave paintings discovered in 1940, courtesy of History.Ĭave art was created in a time in which all resources must have been allocated for survival yet time was still dedicated to the creation of art. Unidentifiable from one's own, the hands of the first humans stretch through millennia, giving a profound feeling of connection between the people of the present and the people of this other, unreachable world. Negative hand stencils, created by placing one’s hand on the cave wall and blowing pigment around it with a straw-like tool, leave behind the hand’s imprint. ![]() However no theory can definitively explain why these paintings were created and how though the continents would have no method of communication with each other, similar art is found in each cave: large animals, abstract dots and cross-hatched lines, and hand stencils. Other theories suggest artistic depictions of animals were created to summon certain species if hunting became sparse, a practice which would seem to work if they were unaware of migration patterns. Cave art is also believed to have held spiritual or religious significance to its creators. ![]() Much of the cave art is painted in dark areas of the caves, possibly to reveal story elements, using fire to strategically illuminate the paintings to unfold a narrative. It is also believed to have held storytelling and entertainment purposes. Some theorize that the paintings were made to document and identify predators and prey and could have additionally provided an educational purpose. Still, however, mystery surrounds the question as to why the paintings were created. With so much intrigue surrounding the caves, it’s no wonder that they have become a subject rich with material to study for theorists, scientists, and philosophers alike. ![]() The otherworldly art feels almost supernatural due to the incomprehensible time since its creation and the connection it provides to man’s earliest ancestors. It is only human nature to be drawn to the caves. The markings left on the walls of caves across the world leave behind a ghost-like presence haunting the people of today. Similar artworks have been found in caves in every continent (excluding Antarctica) dating back to over 45,000 years old and despite its age, cave art, which can be regarded as one of the first known art forms, continues to influence the world of contemporary art. The Lascaux caves, approximated to be over 17,000 years old, are flooded with sophisticated art depicting human handprints and animals-most of which are now extinct-decorating the rocky walls with a relic of a far-gone time. “We have invented nothing.” Picasso, upon seeing the ancient art of the Lascaux caves reportedly came to this disillusioned realization, understanding that art is not modern man’s invention, but a primal instinct. ![]()
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