Early Art - First forms of artistic expression

The first forms of artistic expression date back to prehistoric times and include cave paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects.

Some amaze with their high degree of artistry, form and aesthetic quality. This proves that some people have always possessed extraordinary natural talents, even in their uncultivated form.

Key points about these early artistic manifestations

Cave paintings – The oldest cave paintings discovered date back over 40,000 years and were found in caves in Europe (such as Lascaux, Altamira) and Asia. They depicted animals, hunting scenes, and abstract symbols, and were made with natural pigments obtained from ochre, charcoal, and clay.

Sculptures and figurines – A famous example is the Venus of Willendorf, a statuette approximately 30,000 years old, which symbolizes fertility. Other sculptures depicted animals or anthropomorphic figures were made of bone, stone, or ivory.

Engravings and petroglyphs – In addition to paintings, prehistoric people made engravings on cave walls or on objects made of stone and bone. These included lines, symbols, and stylized representations of nature and daily life.

Megalithic art – Constructions such as Stonehenge or Dolmens in various parts of the world are examples of early monumental art, probably having religious or astronomical roles.

These forms of artistic expression often had a spiritual, ritual or social role, reflecting how prehistoric people understood the world and tried to communicate with deities or convey messages to future generations.

In recent years, significant new discoveries have been made in the field of prehistoric art, which give us a deeper understanding of the artistic expressions of early man.

Some new discoveries

In France: Discovery of charcoal drawings in the Font-de-Gaume Cave

In February 2020, prehistoric charcoal drawings were identified in the Font-de-Gaume cave in the Dordogne region. This discovery is particularly important because it allows for more precise dating of cave art through radiocarbon analysis, offering new insights into Paleolithic creations.

In Romania: Prehistoric Artifacts Exhibition in Liège

An exhibition in Liège, Belgium, showcased archaeological artifacts discovered in Romania over the past two decades. These include the anthropomorphic figurines from Vitănești, the anthropomorphic vessel from Seciu, and the gold ornaments from the Eneolithic necropolis in Pecica. These objects provide valuable clues about the origins of prehistoric civilizations in the Carpatho-Danubian region.

In Spain: New Animal Representations in La Pasiega Cave

In the La Pasiega Cave in Cantabria, researchers used stereoscopic photography techniques to identify new representations of animals, including horses, deer, and extinct species such as the aurochs. This method highlighted the fact that prehistoric cave art is often three-dimensional and cannot be fully understood through two-dimensional images.

These discoveries highlight the complexity and diversity of prehistoric man's artistic expressions, giving us a more detailed perspective on the cultures and beliefs of those distant periods.

- - -

Story by Cosmina Marcela Oltean (Gallery curator & Art writer)

- - -

Photo, Lascaux Cave paintings

[References – mnit.ro, muzeulturda.com, descopera.ro, jurnaluldetransilvania.ro]