What Is the Earliest Period of Art History?

Art|Art History

The earliest period of art history is a highly debated topic among art historians and scholars. The definition of this period is not set in stone and varies depending on who you ask.

Generally, the earliest period of art history refers to the art produced in pre-history, during the Paleolithic era. This period spans from approximately 40,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago and encompasses works produced by various early humans in various parts of the world.

The Paleolithic era was a time when early humans were transitioning from hunting and gathering societies to ones that were more permanent and which included the development of tools and other artifacts. These artifacts included cave paintings, carved figures, pottery vessels, and even jewelry. These works are often seen as primitive but still hold significant cultural meaning for their creators.

The most famous example of Paleolithic artwork is the Lascaux Cave Paintings in France. These paintings depict animals such as horses, bulls, bison, deer, and even birds in vibrant colors. They are believed to have been created between 15000-13000 BCE and are some of the earliest examples of figurative artworks known to exist today.

Other important works from this era include the Venus figurines which are small statuettes depicting women with exaggerated body features such as large hips or breasts; and Stonehenge which is an ancient monument located in England consisting of large stones arranged in a circular shape. Both these works demonstrate how early humans had developed an understanding of symbolism as well as a desire to express themselves through visual artworks.

In addition to these Paleolithic works there are also other early forms of art such as Neolithic pottery vessels which were used for storage purposes or even decorative purposes; Mesopotamian cylinder seals which were used like modern day stamps to seal documents; Egyptian hieroglyphs which were used as a form of written communication; Greek sculptures depicting gods or heroes; Roman frescoes depicting scenes from daily life; and much more.

All these forms demonstrate how early human civilizations had developed an appreciation for visual representation as well as sophisticated techniques for creating beautiful works that still influence our culture today.

In conclusion, the earliest period of art history refers to artwork created during the Paleolithic era between 40,000 years ago and 10,000 years ago by various early humans around the world. This period includes some very famous pieces such as cave paintings or Venus figurines but also includes other lesser known but still important works such as Neolithic pottery vessels or Egyptian hieroglyphs which demonstrate how early human civilizations had developed sophisticated techniques for creating beautiful works that still influence our culture today.

Conclusion: What Is the Earliest Period of Art History? The earliest period of art history refers to artwork created during the Paleolithic era between 40,000 years ago and 10,000 years ago by various early humans around the world. This period includes some very famous pieces such as cave paintings or Venus figurines but also includes other lesser known but still important works that demonstrate how early human civilizations had developed sophisticated techniques for creating beautiful works that still influence our culture today.