Primitive Art Early Beginnings

Primitive Art The history of art begins at the start of man in the caves where primitive humans lived. It has developed just as humans through out the centuries. Most primitive art was created to record an event or as a functional tool.

Cave Paintings The earliest cave paintings date from 15,000 B.C. The artist made their own colors from earth pigments. They even used primitive scaffolding. Their brushes were mats of moss or hair. Some of the paintings were very large. Some animals were draw 16-20 feet long. The caves were lit using torches or by burning animal fat on a flat of dished stone. A primitive lamp Cave Paintings

Primitive Sculpture Carvings not cave paintings are the oldest form of art. Venus of Willendorf was found in Austria and is considered 25,000 years old. The small bulging figure suggests abundant fertility and a plentiful supply of food which are the two foremost needs of any society. Many of these figures have been found in the ground. Primitive people planted them in an effort to guarantee a good food supply.

Primitive Tools This lamp was found in the same caves as the paintings. It is an example of a dished lamp. They were used to light the caves and to help the artist see as they painted. Notice the uses of lines to decorate the handle.