Which were the first artistic representations created by humans?
Answer (2)
The Earliest Artistic Representations by Humans
The first artistic representations created by humans trace back to the Upper Paleolithic period, particularly known for the Aurignacian culture. This era witnessed humans making both large and small-scale art, including cave paintings, portable ornaments, and figurative sculptures out of clay, stone, and ivory. Among the oldest known is a 2.4-inch tall female figure, the Venus of Hohle Fels, carved from mammoth ivory and dated to around 35,000 BCE, found in the Hohle Fels cave in Germany.
Prehistoric art is not confined to Europe; for instance, in the Blombos Cave in South Africa, abstract designs dating back 73,000 years were found, signifying the very early stages of artistic expression. Moreover, a hunting scene depicted in cave art in Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back to at least 40,000 years ago, shows figurative depictions of animals, a common theme in Stone Age art.
Paleolithic sculptures included forms like the Venus figurines, which are relatively small statuettes often representing female figures with exaggerated features, possibly signifying fertility or reproductive capability. The overall interpretative significance of these objects and paintings is still subject to much scholarly debate, but they undeniably signify an early aesthetic sensibility and a capacity for symbolic thought and communication.
The first artistic representations by humans originated in the Upper Paleolithic period, around 40,000 to 35,000 years ago, largely through cave paintings and Venus figurines. Significant examples include the cave art in Lascaux, France, and the Venus of Hohle Fels figurine from Germany. These early artworks reflect the cognitive and cultural evolution of humankind, demonstrating an early capacity for artistic expression and symbolism.
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