1. Paleolithic Art: An Introduction
Replica of the painting from the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave in southern France (Anthropos museum, Brno)

2. The Oldest Art: Ornamentation
Extremely old, non- representational ornamentation has been found across Africa.
The oldest firmly-dated example is a collection of 82,000 year old Nassarius snail shells found in Morocco that are pierced and covered with red ochre.

3. The Oldest Representational Art
2.4-inch tall female figure carved out of mammoth ivory
Found in six fragments in the Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen in southern Germany
35,000 B.C.E.
The Venus of Hohle Fels

4. Caves and Pockets
Two main types of Upper Paleolithic art have survived:
1. Caves
Permanently located works found on the walls within caves
Mostly unknown prior to the final decades of the nineteenth century, many such sites have now been discovered throughout much of southern Europe
Variable subjects: geometric motifs, many types of flora and fauna, and the occasional human figure.
Various sizes: from several inches to large-scale compositions that span many feet in length.
2. Pockets (i.e., portable)
Works are generally of a small-scale—a logical size given the nomadic nature of Paleolithic peoples
Despite their size, the creation of these portable objects signifies a remarkable allocation of time and effort.

5. The Caves
The caves at Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc, Lascaux, Pech Merle, and Altamira contain the best known examples of pre-historic painting and drawing.
Here are remarkably evocative renderings of animals and some humans that employ a complex mix of naturalism and abstraction.
Archeologists that study Paleolithic era humans, believe that the paintings discovered in 1994, in the cave at Chauvet- Pont-d'Arc in the Ardéche valley in France, are more than 30,000 years old.
The images found at Lascaux and Altamira are more recent, dating to approximately 15,000 B.C.E.
The paintings at Pech Merle date to both 25,000 and 15,000 B.C.E.
Replica of the painting from the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave in southern France (Anthropos museum, Brno)

6. Lascaux
Left wall of the Hall of Bulls, Lascaux II (replica of the original cave, which is closed to the public). Original cave: c. 16,000-14,000 B.C.E., 11 feet 6 inches long

7. Why did they do it? Two theories: “Hunting Magic” Narratives
Hallucinations?
Disemboweled bison and bird-headed human figure? Cave at Lascaux, c. 16,000-14,000 B.C.E.

8. Venus of Willendorf Can a 25,000-year-old object be a work of art?
Naming and Dating
Venus?
Relative Dating
Locational Analysis
nities/prehistoric-art/paleolithic- art/v/nude-woman-venus-of- willendorf-c b-c-e

9. Venus of Willendorf Quiz
1. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT. . .
This object is one of many female figurines from the Paleolithic period.
This object represents a goddess associated with love and marriage rituals.
This object is made from limestone and was originally painted with red ochre.
This object's original function is not known.
The object's emphasis on female anatomy has led to speculation about its meaning.

10. Venus of Willendorf Quiz
2. Why was this figure commonly called Venus?
The object was discovered in Greece.
The subject is the prehistoric goddess of love.
The name reflects early 20th century beliefs about the figure's meaning.
The figure is an idealized image of feminine beauty.

11. Venus of Willendorf Quiz
3. Which feature is NOT currently visible in the Venus of Willendorf?
eyes
breasts
legs
genitals

12. Venus of Willendorf Quiz
4. What prevents art historians from knowing the original meanings of the Venus of Willendorf?
Select all that apply.
Its historical context is unknown.
Its culture produced no known written documents.
The object lacks visual details.
Interpretation can be clouded by modern biases.

13. Venus of Willendorf Quiz
5. What evidence supports the belief that the Nude woman (Venus of Willendorf) was meant to be held in the hand?
Select all that apply.
The figure has no feet and can't stand on its own.
The figure is symmetrical.
The figure is small.
The figure is carved from limestone.

14. Scenes from 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams'
Werner Herzog's epic documentary film 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams' (2010) explores the Paleolithic murals of Chauvet Cave, France. The undulating walls of the cave are adorned with remarkable depictions of animals from that far removed time, including the extinct megaloceros, wooly rhinoceros, cave bears, cave lions and hyenas. The remarkable condition of the these most ancient artworks is simply breathtaking considering their age of over 30,000 years.
cdVWnOiE