Lesson 7
Art in Early
Civilization
Group 2
Learning Outcomes
• How art was used by prehistoric people to
depict everyday life;
• Identify the central themes of prehistoric
art;
• Differentiate the techniques used during
the three kingdoms of early Egypt; and
• explain how art is linked with religion in
early Egyptian civilization.
• Stone Age is a term used to describe a period of history when
stones were used to make tools for survival.
• "Conjures an image of men and women dressed in skins
huddling before fire in a cave" (Fitchner-Rathus, 2013)
• Prehistoric humans relied on artifacts, such as cave paintings
and sculptures that serve as the "storytellers."
Three period of the Stone Age
culture (which roughly span the
•
14,000–2,000BCE)
Paleolithic (the late years of the Old Stone
Age)
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
• Neolithic (New Stone Age)
Prehistoric Art
Archeological explorations reveal that there has been a gradual shift from a
nomadic lifestyle of early humans to that of permanent settlements, paving the way for
the rise of early civilizations.
The Stone Age has witnessed how humans were able to lead more stable lives and
eventually come up with permanent shelters and tools for survival.
Paleolithic Art is a product of climate change.
Caves became protective havens for the early humans and these caves paved theway
for the birth of their first attempts to create art.
Early humans used advanced art
techniques such as spray-painting,
foreshortening, and contrasting of lights
and shadows to create the illusion of
three-dimensional
forms and realistic representation of
animals.
They also used ground pigments
Hall of Bulls blownthrough reeds or bones.
Venus of Willendorf
Cave paintings may not have been created
for ornamental purposes, but they may have
served as a sanctuary for early humans.
They may have reflected early beliefs
about life and fertility, such as the "Venus of
Willendorf", which depicts a woman
withoversized breasts, hips, and round
abdomen.
Neolithic art developed as life
became more stable, By 4000
BCE, there were several
monumental and architectural
structures erected such as
Stonehenge in Southern
England.
It remains a mystery, but is
Stonehenge still one of the world's
architectural wonders.
Egyptian Art
The Fertile Ribbon starts from the banks of the Nile River, which flows
north to Africa and ventures into the Mediterranean.
With this came the notion that art was something that can be ascribed and
associated with religion.
The Egyptian civilization can be divided into three periods: Old, Middle,
and New Kingdom.
Looking at the three periods, it can be noticed that for the Egyptians, art
should be something religious and spiritual.
During the Old Kingdom, it was evident that religion was bound to the
afterlife.
One of the cosmetic palettes found in Egypt was called the Narmer
Palette. palette that utilized and applied dark colors around King Narmer's
eyes. It symbolizes the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The Narmer Palette is an artifact that
emphasizes the king's supreme and absolute
authority.
It features King Narmer wearing the
crown of Upper Egypt, two dead warriors
beneath him, a falcon, the god Horus, and a
representation of Hathor.
Narmer Pallete
The front palette shows lion-like
figures with intertwined necks
bound on leashes and tamed by two
men.
The king's size in comparison to
the objects in the palette is a clear
indication of his royal status
Narmer Pallete
The pyramids in Giza were constructed during the Old Kingdom to provide a resting place
for the pharaohs. The stones used were quarried from a nearby plateau, and the construction
highlighted the ingenuity and advancement of the Egyptians.
Workers moved the stones from the plateau using wooden rollers and stonecutters carved
them before stacking them. The Egyptians also decorated the insides of the pyramids but thieves
often plundered valuable objects used to decorate them.
One of the key features of the Middle Kingdom is a shift in
the political hierarchy. Because of the internal struggle between
these two influential sides, art has taken aback seat during the
Middle Kingdom. In order for art to reemerge and flourish,
Egypt needed to have a more stable situation.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Art during the Middle Kingdom had some references from the Old Kingdom,
however there were some experimentation in terms of style that transpired during this period.
To solve the problem of thieves that plunder the tombs, the Egyptians made rock-cut.tombs
by carving out a living rock
This Asiatic Tribe introduced Bronze Age weapons and horses
to the Egyptians. When these foreign invaders were overthrown,
the Egyptians formed the New Kingdom.
The art of the New Kingdom had references from both of the
preceding kingdoms. During this period, Egypt has established
itself as a more advanced and powerful civilization. With this
newly found strength and power comes an inflated ego
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Amarna Revolution was led by King Akhenaton and
Queen Nefertiti, who moved the capital to Tel El-Amarna.
King Akhenaton wanted to revolutionize the arts and
religion, so he changed his name to Akhenaton, which came
from Aton, the sun god.Sculptures during this period were
curving lines and full-bodied forms, with emphasis n life-
like features of the face. Naturalism was used to depict the
pharaoh and members of the royal family, such as Queen
Nefertiti's bust, which was enhanced by painting to the
limestone.
King Akhenaton's successors returned to rigid and
conventional styles, destroyed images and figures of
Aton, and adopted monotheism.
Queen Nefertiti
Howard Carter discovered the tomb of
Tutankhamen in 1922, which was astonished to
find gold artworks and a coffin made of solid
gold.
The young king body was covered in linen
and a gold mask covered his face. This was one
of the greatest discoveries from the Egyptian
civilization
King Tutankhamen
Let's Wrap it
The prehistoric period saw the transition from a nomadic
Up
lifestyle to a morepermanent one, leading to early civilizations.
One of the early civilizations where art flourished was the
Egyptian civilization, where art was used in religious and
spiritual activities.
Through these unearthed and discovered artworks, the modern
world can gain a better understanding of the past and how it
affects the present.
Thank You
for
listening!
