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Paleolithic art developed among nomadic hunter-gatherer societies. It focuses on animals, movement, and survival, using natural pigments and stone surfaces. These works were likely created for ritual or spiritual purposes rather than decoration.
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Paleolithic, Unknown, Chauvet Cave Paintings, c. 30,000 BCE, charcoal and pigment on limestone, Chauvet Cave, France. These are among the earliest cave paintings known. The use of overlapping animals and shading shows advanced observation and planning. -
Paleolithic, Unknown, Lascaux Cave Paintings, c. 15,000–13,000 BCE, mineral pigments on limestone, Lascaux Cave, France.These paintings show large animals in motion and use the natural curves of the cave walls. They reflect the importance of hunting and the spiritual relationship between humans and animals. -
Neolithic art developed after the Agricultural Revolution. As societies settled, art shifted toward architecture, ritual monuments, and symbolic objects tied to community and religion.
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Neolithic, Unknown, Wall Paintings from Çatalhöyük, c. 7000 BCE, mineral pigments on plaster, Çatalhöyük, Turkey. These paintings were made inside homes, showing how art became part of daily life. The imagery suggests early storytelling and symbolism. -
Neolithic, Unknown, Ain Ghazal Statues, c. 7000–6500 BCE, plaster and reed, approx. 3 ft, Jordan Museum, Amman.
These statues are early large-scale human figures. Their stylized forms suggest ritual or ancestor worship. -
Neolithic, Unknown, Stonehenge, c. 3000–1500 BCE, sandstone and bluestone, Salisbury Plain, England. Stonehenge reflects Neolithic engineering and collective labor. Its alignment with solar events suggests ceremonial or religious significance. -
Paleolithic, Unknown, Venus of Willendorf, c. 28,000–25,000 BCE, limestone with red ochre, 4.4 in, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna. This small sculpture emphasizes fertility through exaggerated features. Its portable size suggests ritual use and highlights concerns with survival and reproduction.