What is the purpose of any form of art?
Communication.
To impart something to others that is beyond spoken language alone.
Art is one of the very few things that separates human beings from other species.
And, indeed, art is the only evidence that prehistoric people saw the world in symbolic terms, as we do, today.
While many anthropologists see religious significance in all prehistoric art, some of it undoubtedly was nothing more than an aesthetic response to seeing the world as beautiful. Only human beings see the world as beautiful.
Cave paintings are usually seen as totemic, or as prayer.... painting images of the prey animals you wanted to find.
And atlatl ( spear thrower ) carved into the shape of a horse's head may have been believed to magically guide the spear to the horse.
Or maybe the carver of the atlatl simply thought the horse to be beautiful.
Human beings are the only species that KNOW they are symbolizing their experience.
Through language, music, performance, and visual arts, we create the method to communicate that seems to be the most affecting.
While a wolf might lay on the brow of a hill and notice the chill in the air and changing colors of the leaves and realize that winter is coming on...
we can be certain that the wolf will never see the oncoming winter as a metaphor for his own advancing years, and the "winter" of his life.
We can be certain of this because if the wolf was capable of such an insight, he would be capable of communicating that insight to his fellows through some form of art.
The ability to perceive metaphor evolved hand in hand with the ability to speak, and to create.
The purpose of Cro-Magnon cave art was likely for communication, storytelling, religious or spiritual practices, and possibly for ritualistic purposes. These early humans used cave art to express their creativity, beliefs, and culture, as well as to document their surroundings and experiences.
This is unknown. Some believe it was for religious purposes. Others believe it was to communicate with other Cro-Magnon.
They painted on cave walls and carved small figurines of round feminine figures known as Venuses.
The Cro-Magnon were named after the rock shelter in southern France where their fossils were first discovered in 1868. The term Cro-Magnon is often used to refer to early modern humans who lived in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period.
The major art form of Cro-Magnons was cave painting. These early humans created intricate and detailed paintings on the walls of caves, depicting animals, hunting scenes, and symbolic designs. This form of art provided valuable insights into the culture and daily life of Cro-Magnon people.
The Cro-Magnon were known for painting on cave walls.
Cro-Magnon were known to paint on cave walls.
Cro-Magnon didn't write. But they did paint on cave walls.
The Cro-Magnon were named after the rock shelter in southern France where their fossils were first discovered in 1868. The term Cro-Magnon is often used to refer to early modern humans who lived in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period.
Cro-Magnon were known to paint on cave walls.
Cro-Magnon were known to paint on cave walls.
They carved small stone figurines known as Venuses. They also painted on cave walls.
in a cave, hut, or tent.
No one is sure. It is believed that possibly it was for religious purposes, or to communicate with other Cro-Magnon.
They painted on cave walls and carved small figurines of round feminine figures known as Venuses.
They were known for their paintings on cave walls.
Cro-Magnon people are known for their advanced tool-making skills, cave paintings, and complex social structures, which greatly influenced human culture. They developed new technologies for hunting and survival, created intricate art, and established social hierarchies and community structures that laid the foundation for modern human societies.
Cro-Magnon were known to paint on cave walls.
Cro-Magnon likely painted on cave walls for various reasons, such as artistic expression, storytelling, religious or ceremonial purposes, or to communicate important information to others in their community. It may have also served as a way to mark territory or as a form of social bonding and cultural expression.