Embedded Files
Prehistoric Art (~40,000–4,000 B.C.) (not tested)
Prehistoric Art (~40,000–4,000 B.C.) (not tested)
The Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age)
The Paleolithic Era (Old Stone Age)
The Dawn of Visual Language
The Dawn of Visual Language
Before humans wrote a single word, they were already communicating through images. This era is defined by a shift from survival to representation.
Mediums: Rock carvings, engravings, small sculptures (like "Venus" figurines), and stone arrangements.
Technique: Artists used natural pigments (iron ore, hematite, manganese oxide) mixed with water or animal fat.
The Lascaux Caves (France), roughly 20000 years ago
Subjects: Primarily "Megafauna" (large animals like bison, horses, and mammoths). Humans were rarely depicted, and when they were, they were usually simple stick figures.
Mesopotamia: The Code of Hammurabi (c. 1792 B.C.)
depicts King Hammurabi receiving laws from the god Shamash.
Message: The art legitimizes the law; it shows that the King's authority comes directly from the divine.
Ancient Art (c. 3,000 B.C.–400 A.D.) (not tested)
Ancient Art (c. 3,000 B.C.–400 A.D.) (not tested)
The Art of Power and Order
The Art of Power and Order
As civilizations developed written languages, art became more than just a record—it became a way to enforce laws, honor gods, and display wealth.
Key Characteristics (Function Over Form)
Key Characteristics (Function Over Form)
Purpose: To tell stories of rulers, honor gods, and mark social status.
Utility: Decoration of everyday objects (weapons, bowls) to show wealth.
Propaganda: Demonstrating the power of a ruler to their subjects and enemies.
The Annunciation (1333), Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi
marks the moment the Angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary she will give birth to Jesus.
Medieval Art (500–1400)
Medieval Art (500–1400)
Focus: Faith over Form
After the fall of Rome, art shifted away from realistic "human" beauty and toward spiritual symbolism. Because most people couldn't read, art served as a "visual Bible."
Key Concepts
Key Concepts
The Church as Patron: Almost all major art was funded by the Church. Its purpose was to inspire awe and teach religious stories.
Anti-Realism: Figures often looked flat, stiff, or "floating." Artists weren't bad at drawing; they just believed that physical realism was less important than spiritual meaning.
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