ART IN EARLY CIVILIZATION

• Stone Age


  Period of history when stones were used to make tools for survival
• Periods of Stone Age

  • Paleolithic - Late years of the old Stone Age
  • Mesolithic - Middle Stone Age
  • Neolithic - New Stone Age
• Unearthing of archaeological artifacts and remains provides modern society a glimpse of the beliefs, practices, and activities of early civilization
• The motives and reasons behind the creation of ancient materials such as sculptures, painting, and architectural structures may not be clearly defined
• Early people produced materials that reflect their attitudes and belief system on spiritual, social, political, and economic matters
• As early humans transitioned from being nomads to permanent settlers


  Their everyday activities also had some changes, which is evident through the materials and even the works of art they have created
• Despite changes as a result of adapting to their environment, there are central themes in their artworks
• Central themes in ancient artworks


  • Religious symbols
  • Wide array of organisms from nature
  • Activities of everyday life
• Paleolithic Art


  • Product of climate change
  • Caves became protective havens for early humans, paving the way for the birth of their first attempt to create art
• Paleolithic Art


  • Halls of Bulls found in a cave in Lascaux, France
• Paleolithic Art


  • The "Venus of Willendorf" - Highly abstracted woman from highlighted body parts associated with fertility
• The representation of the "Venus of Willendorf"


  May show the importance of taking care of these body parts for procreation and consequently the survival of species
• Mesolithic Art


  • Stonehenge in England
• Neolithic Art


  Purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery - Some regard it as a temple, others see it as a complex calendar that tracked the movements of the Sun and Moon, others ascribe some magical element to it by associating it with Merlin the Magician from King Arthur's story
• The Egyptian civilization can be divided into three periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdom
• For the Egyptians, art should be something religious and spiritual
• There may have been differences in the techniques used and style emphasized, but there are common denominators among the artworks created during their respective time periods
• Egyptian Art


  • Narmer Palette - Utilized and applied dark colors around King Narmer's eyes, a symbol that commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
• Egyptian Art


  • The Great Pyramid of Giza - Architectural wonder constructed during the Old Kingdom, served as tombs to provide a resting place for the pharaohs
• Egyptian Art


  • Queen Nefertiti - Emphasis on life-like features of the face, naturalism used to depict the pharaoh and members of the royal family
• Egyptian Art


  • King Tutankhamen - Discovered in 1922, his tomb was found to contain gold artworks and his coffin was made of solid gold, his body was covered in linen and a gold mask covered his face