The History of Art

By Annmarie Edwards

What is Art?

"Art is very like people: always different and always much the same," according to Norbert Lynton, author of A History of Art, p.7). New, revolutionary, and unique are words that describe art.

Classification of Art

Prehistoric art
No one can learn for sure the exact time prehistoric art emerged. As such, the origin of prehistoric art baffled historians. Current discoveries of prehistoric art by archaeologists showed markings dated over 70,000 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-historic_art

Archaeologists discovered prehistoric art on caves, stones, and beads. Cave drawings, part of the prehistoric art era depicted animals and everyday life of that period.

Historians relate prehistoric to the Upper Paleolithic period. During the Mesolithic period painted stones another form of prehistoric art emerged.

The Neolithic Period
Pottery a form of artwork emerged during the Neolithic Period. This form of artwork came from the Jomo people in Ancient Japan.

Prehistoric man used cave drawings as evidence of their existence. Cave drawings by prehistoric man left a landmark for generations over the years. When evaluating cave drawings by prehistoric man, it provides a lens what life was like during that period.

According to Norbert Lynton, "Art is at once mankind's most wonderful and most basic invention…" (page. 7). Prehistoric man started this basic invention to express himself using markings. In our present-day culture art change in so many different ways. The question is what would prehistoric man think of our present-day art? Food for thought.

Prehistoric painting showed domesticated animals and tools used in hunting. Lynton suggested that prehistoric men made figures of small women called Venus.



Art in prehistoric time was an expression of faith and part survival. Present-day art has come a long way seeing how prehistoric men used art as a form of survival. Is it safe to say that art is part survival? What is your take?


To learn more about the history of art read "A History of Art An Introduction to painting and sculpture" by Norbert Lynton.



Annmarie Edwards is an artist who appreciates art on all levels. She uses different medium in her artistic expression. You can view some of her artwork on her blogs.
http://artsinamerica.blogspot.com
http://mrslaughingpants.typepad.com
http://onlineworkforcetraining.blogspot.com


Copyrighted © by Annmarie Edwards 2008