Prehistoric Art

PREHISTORIC ART
 Nomadic lifestyle of early human to permanent settlements.

 Stone age witnessed how humans were able to lead more
stable lives and eventually come up with permanent shelters and tools
for survival.
 Early humans also turned the creation of painting and
sculptures that depict human, animals and their natural habitats.
PALEOLITHIC ART IS A PRODUCT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
 As the climate get colder, part of early human instinct is to look for
shelters that would provide them warmth.
 Caves became protective haven for the early humans and these caves
paved the way for the birth of their first attempts to create art.
HALL OF BULLS IN A CAVE IN LASCAUX, FRANCE 15,000 BCE
SPOTTED HORSES AND NRGATIVE HAND IMPRINTS IN PECH-MERLE,

FRANCE 22,000 BCE
 Some of early humans already used their own-version of
spray-painting techniques
 They use ground pigments blown through reeds or hollowed-out bones
 They also use foreshortening and contrasting of lights and shadows to
create three-dimensional forms and seemingly real representation of
animals
Artworks during Paleolithic Period are not just for decorative items but served
as:
1. Religious Rituals
2. Reflection of early beliefs of humans in life and fertility
One of the works that reflected such beliefs would be a sculpture called the
“VENUS OF WILLENDORF” associated with fertility.
VENUS OF WILLENDORF in Vienna, Austria 25,000-28,000 B.C.E and was discovered on 1908
NEOLITHIC ART
 Art that has developed especially when life for the early
humans had become more stable.
 They have learned to cultivate the land and domesticated animals.
 They also have several monumental and architectural
structures erected.
STONEHENGE in Southern England 2500-1600 B.C.E

EGYPTIAN ART
“Art should be something religious and spiritual.”
Different techniques used and style emphasized but there are common
denominators among the artworks created during their respective time periods.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATIONPERIODS:
1. OLD KINGDOM
2. MIDDLE KINGDOM
3. NEW KINGDOM
OLD KINGDOM
 It was evident that religion was bound to the afterlife.
 They created tombs for important people, particularly the PHARAOHS.
 Not just for keeping the dead bodies but also to serve as a shelter for the
next journey in the afterlife.
 They decorated the tombs with everyday objects that would reflect day-
today activities as if the afterlife is a mere continuation of what
transpired on earth.
Human figures seen in the tombs were represented in such a way that the
profile of the head was evident, while the pelvis, legs and upper torso were
prominent and the eyes are in the frontal view.
One of the cosmetics palettes found in Egypt was called the Narmer Palette. It
was a palette that utilized and applied dark colors around King Narmer’s eyes.
It was a symbol that commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The unification was significant because it marked the beginning of their
civilization.
One of the architectural wonders during the Old Kingdom was also
constructed. The Pyramids of Giza served as tombs since their main purpose
was to provide a resting place for the pharaohs. These pyramids are massive in
size and were constructed using roughly more than two million limestone
blocks.
MIDDLE KINGDOM
 One of the key features of the Middle Kingdom is a shift in the political
hierarchy.
 Emergence of powerful group of landlords that threatened the authority
and rule of the Pharaoh. Because of the struggle between these two
influential sides, art has taken back seat during this period.
 Art got back during the rule of King Mentuhotep.
 Experimentation in terms of style that transpired during this period.
 Portrait sculpture and fresco paintings were freely drawn some of the
styles that emerged during this period.
 During this period, Egypt fell into the hands of Hyksos. This Asiatic Tribe
introduced Bronze Age weapons and horses to the Egyptians.
 When these foreign invaders were overthrown, the Egyptians formed the
New Kingdom.
NEW KINGDOM
 Art of the New Kingdom had references from both of the preceding
kingdoms.
 Monuments and sculptures were still linked with death and reverence for
the deceased.
 During previous kingdoms, tombs were just used for worshipping the
dead, but in the New Kingdom, they started having mortuary temples.
 Mortuary temples (or funerary temples) were temples that were erected
adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, royal tombs in Ancient Egypt. The
temples were designed to commemorate the reign of the Pharaoh under
whom they were constructed, as well as for use by the king's cult after
death.
After the NEW KINGDOM

 Egypt witnessed the Amarna Revolution led by King Akhenaton and
Queen Nefertiti.
 During his reign, King Amenhotep wanted to revolutionize the arts and
religion.
 King Amenhotep change his name to Akhenaton, which came from Aten
who is the Sun God.
 During this period, the only God to be revered was Aten. Egypt became
monotheistic and he ordered to tear down all monuments of other Gods.
 Most sculptures during this period had curving lines and full-bodied
forms.
“Queen Nefertiti”
The bust of Queen Nefertiti has along and sensuous neck. The figure was
enhanced by applying paint to the limestone.
“King Tutankhamen”
 Probably one of the greatest discoveries from theEgyptian civilization was
the tomb of Tutankhamen.
 He became king at a very young age and died atthe age of 18.
 Howard Carter discovered his tomb in 1922.
 The coffin was made out of solid gold.
 His body was covered in linen and a gold mask covered his face

Prehistoric Art

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PREHISTORIC ART

 Nomadic lifestyle of early human to permanent settlements.

PALEOLITHIC ART IS A PRODUCT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

HALL OF BULLS IN A CAVE IN LASCAUX, FRANCE 15,000 BCE

SPOTTED HORSES AND NRGATIVE HAND IMPRINTS IN PECH-MERLE,

STONEHENGE in Southern England 2500-1600 B.C.E

After the NEW KINGDOM

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