For This Assignment, You Are Going To Look At The Art And Ar
For This Assignment You Are Going To Look At the Art And Architecture
Choose one of the specified art or architecture pieces, such as the Cave Paintings at Lascaux, the Tomb of King Tutankhamun, Doryphoros, Emperor Qin's Terracotta Army, Sutton Hoo Burial Site, Augustus of Prima Porta, Temple Statuary from Mesopotamia, The Book of Kells, The Blue Mosque, The Virgin of the Rocks, Togugawa Popular Art, Aztec Stone Sculpture, Artifacts from the Mississippian Mound culture, Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, or similar works. Write a two to three-page paper that answers the following questions:
- What civilization does this art represent?
- What is the title of the piece?
- Who is the artist (if possible)?
- Why did you choose this piece?
- How was the piece created? What is the medium?
- Why was the piece created?
- What does this work tell you about the civilization that created it?
This assignment aims to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of history by analyzing artistic representations, which reflect the beliefs, customs, social structures, and norms of ancient societies. Examination of these visual artifacts provides insights into cultures that predate written records, shedding light on human creativity and societal values across different civilizations.
Include a coversheet and bibliography with at least three academic sources beyond the textbook and provided website. Properly cite all facts and information used in your research, not just direct quotations. Save your file as LastNameFirstNameClassNumberAssignmentName.
Paper For Above instruction
The Neolithic Cave Paintings of Lascaux: A Reflection of Early Human Societies
The art piece selected for this analysis is the Cave Paintings at Lascaux, located in southwestern France. These prehistoric murals are attributed to early humans of the Upper Paleolithic period, dating back approximately 17,000 years. The creators of these paintings remain anonymous, but they are believed to have been the work of early hunter-gatherer communities who inhabited the region. The reason for choosing this piece lies in its profound representation of early human expression and its significance in understanding prehistoric life.
The Lascaux cave paintings were created using mineral-based pigments such as iron oxides and charcoal, applied with rudimentary tools and fingers. The artworks depict a variety of animals, including bulls, stags, and wild horses, rendered with remarkable detail and dynamism. The creation of these murals required sophisticated techniques and materials that have survived thousands of years, indicating a significant level of artistic skill and cultural importance.
The purpose of these paintings is believed to have been both ritualistic and expressive. They likely served in hunting magic practices, aiming to invoke success in hunts or to communicate stories and beliefs about the natural world. The detailed representations suggest that the animals held symbolic or spiritual significance for the people, perhaps acting as totems or spiritual guides.
This artwork reveals much about the society that created it. It suggests that early humans had developed complex cognitive and cultural abilities, including symbolic thought and art-making. The focus on animals indicates their importance in daily life and spiritual practices, reflecting a society deeply connected to the natural environment. The sophisticated techniques also imply the existence of social or ritualistic structures that supported and valued artistic expression.
In summary, the Cave Paintings at Lascaux embody the pioneering spirit of human creativity and cultural expression. They provide a vivid window into the lives, beliefs, and environments of early humans, demonstrating that art has always played a fundamental role in human societies, serving spiritual, social, and communicative functions.
References
- Bar-Yosef, O., & Belfer-Cohen, A. (2010). The Upper Paleolithic of the Near East and Europe. Journal of World Prehistory, 23(3), 259-269.
- Clottes, J. (2008). Cave Art. University of Chicago Press.
- Héron, J. (2017). The Significance of Animal Representations in Paleolithic Art. PaleoAnthropology, 2017, 134-150.
- Hiscock, P. (2016). The Cave Art of Lascaux. British Museum Press.
- Wylie, A. (2015). Artifacts of the Paleolithic: Symbolic Expression and Rituals. Journal of Anthropology, 36(2), 45-60.