Birth of Art
(Prehistoric Art)

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About Art History
Art History Courses at the University of Chicago - see page of the University of Chicago
What is the History of Art and what is the discipline of Art History - see page of York University
For that matter, Why Study History (in general)?
Classification Categories of Art History - Chronology, Provenance (place of origin), Style and Style Changes, Attribution (Artist, School), Meaning, cause and context

The Birth of Art
Paleolithic Art -
When we are talking about the Paleolithic period we are talking about millions of years.  But of purposes of art history, the Late Upper Paleolithic period becomes more interesting. It began about 40,000 years ago and lasted through the Pleistocene ice age, which is thought to have ended about  8,000 B.C. This period was marked by the rise of Homo sapiens (that's us)  and our ever-developing ability to create tools and weapons. (see the source:)

more about Paelolithic Art:
modern interpretations of (Sam Deuel of California) inspired by cave art -
Beloit College Collection of Paleolithic Artifacts
Le Roque-Saint-Christophe - occupied for 20,000 continuous years!  See the pictures of this "big" neighborhood
Paleolithic Art in France (extract) - Discusses the amount (1/2 of all existing), locations and quality of Ice Age art in France.
Paleolithic Art - encyclopedia article
Encarta article on Paleolithic art


Mesolithic Art -
Mesolithic Art -
From 10,000 to 8000 B.C. - Also known as the Middle Stone Age. During this brief period of 2000 years things weren't developing in a very exciting way. Rock paintings (in contrast to Cave paintings) have human (in contrast to animal) subjects.  The humans were highly stylized, not natural. There resemblance to pictographs vs. pictures brings some to think they may have been an early form of written communication - like hieroglyphics.
more about Mesolithic Art



Neolithic Art
Neolitic Art
From 8000 to 3000 B.C.
The receding glaciers make agricultural output more dependable and thus create leisure time for humans to pursue interests.
Humans don't have to wander to stalk food. They can settle. This gives way to such practical artistic pursuits as weaving and architecture.
Megaliths are constructed and pictographs are paving the way  for written communication.

The finds of  The finds of Catal Huyuk  an ancient village in modern Turkey reveal landscape wall paintings (the world's earliest known)  circa 6150 BC.
Decorated pottery is replacing stone utensils.  For more about Catal Huyuk see http://catal.arch.cam.ac.uk/catal/index.html ,
new finds at Catal Huyuk,
Temple City of Prehistoric Anatolia
The Religion of Obsidian (Neolithic landscape painting is shown on this page)