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"Prehistory" means prior to written history, or the period of time before humans began recording events using a system of writing. “Paleolithic” comes from the word “paleo,” which means “old,” and “lithic,” which means “stone.” The Paleolithic era is the period of time that marks the emergence of the first stone tools by humans, and it is the longest defined period of human history.
The emergence of stone tools is important, as it corresponds to an evolutionary shift in the brain development of human beings. The ability to problem solve by creating tools specific to a task likely corresponds with the advent of true creativity, which is where the interest of art historians comes in. These tools had functionality, yet they were pieces of creative artwork at the same time.
EXAMPLE
Below is an example of a stone hand ax. This is one of the first tools in human history.IN CONTEXT
Our conception of what art is today has evolved over time. While viewed as art in our present-day context, the prehistoric artifacts we still discover today most likely had a very different purpose or function in their time.
The line between art history and archaeology can be blurred at times. The reason for this is that we can only evaluate artifacts using our understanding of these people, which itself is based purely on archaeological evidence. There is no written record to go by, and this introduces a lot of speculation. When studying an artifact from this era, the first step is to identify objects made by humans by asking:
- Was it considered art as we understand art to be in its time?
- What was the purpose of these images?
During this period of time, there was no formal way to document historical events. Instead, historical traditions were likely committed to memory and passed along orally. The memory image refers to the artist creating an image based upon what they remember, rather than having a physical reference. This reliance upon memory may account for the large degree of abstraction present in these images. Abstraction is repeatedly found in prehistoric works of art scattered around the world.
EXAMPLE
Take a look at the image of Venus of Brassempouy, below. Some individual characteristics are missing altogether, and some are very generalized. This is an example of abstraction.Sculpture in the round is an object that is free-standing, in that it isn’t attached to any other surface. This particular sculpture cannot technically stand on its own, but it most likely was never designed to do so.
EXAMPLE
One of the most famous examples of prehistoric sculpture in the round is called the Venus of Willendorf, pictured below. The name is based upon the location of its discovery in Austria. It’s one of the earliest examples of human sculpture, dated to around 24,000 BC.Notice the high degree of abstraction in the female physical features, such as the breasts, buttocks, belly, and sexual organs that are grossly exaggerated. In contrast, the head, face, and arms are much less prominent, or missing altogether.
IN CONTEXT
Some scholars believe the Venus of Willendorf was created as a personal fertility idol, due to its depiction and size—it’s about 4 inches tall. All of these facts may give insight into the society that produced it; for example, the possible status of women or the nomadic lifestyle they had. All of these images are rather small and portable.
Some also believe that it may have been an artistic self-interpretation or created simply for the sake of creating something aesthetically valuable. Ultimately though, the truth is that no one knows for sure, as the lack of any written accounts can only lead to educated speculation.
Relief sculpture is another type of sculpture where the carving is attached to a flat surface-- such as wood, stone, or other material-- and is chiseled or gouged.
EXAMPLE
The Venus of Laussel is a type of relief sculpture. It is a fertility figure holding what appears to be a ram's horn.Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY IAN MCCONNELL FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.