Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic
These paintings were chosen because they were all in either the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, or Neolithic time period. All of the colors used were earth tones, or colors like brown, red, black, yellow, and white. These paintings were painted by prehistoric man in caves all over Europe. These ancient people portray their way of life and animals. The caves could have been used in religion, beliefs, and rituals. The animals depicted include, bison, deer, horses, cattle, lions, mammoth, and boars. These animals could have been the animals that were hunted or seen in the world man lived in. The prehistoric man believed that by painting the animals and throwing spears at the pictures, that they would have a successful hunt.
Cave Paintings
The first paintings were cave paintings. The paint was usually made out of minerals like limonite and hematite. These minerals made the colors red, yellow, and umber. Burnt bones and charcoal from the fire made shades of black. Finally, grounded calcite made a lime white color. The pigment stuck to the rough cave walls, because the paint seeped into the absorbent walls. Possibly, prehistoric man discovered that the color in the materials they used was actually made from the oxide deposits in the earth, causing them to travel to find different pigments.
Horse, 15,00-13,00 B.C.
Cave Painting at Lascaux, France
In these times, paint was just a way to define and represent the subject of the painting. The only use of color was to create realistic looking subjects. For example, in Horse, the horse, or subject is brown. This color only adds to the realism of the painting, along with the shape. Many paintings look like the actual animal or subject. " All art is imitation of nature" - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Horse, 15,00-13,00 B.C.
Cave Painting at Lascaux, France
In these times, paint was just a way to define and represent the subject of the painting. The only use of color was to create realistic looking subjects. For example, in Horse, the horse, or subject is brown. This color only adds to the realism of the painting, along with the shape. Many paintings look like the actual animal or subject. " All art is imitation of nature" - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Lascaux Cave painting, circa 15,000 BC
Lascaux, France
Lascaux, France