Ancient early art origins - The people during this time started to shift from cave

drawings to stone sculpture and stone carving.

Early evidence of art was recorded around 70,000 BCE, wherein
- This is also the period wherein people started to settle in
early humans resort to raw materials to decorate or draw images.
their preferred area.
These art forms feature cave drawings and cave paintings with
Note: this period records the first ways of idol worship and the
animals and humans and some forms include carvings made from
nature of religious practice.
animal bones or animal parts such as tusks.
In some places like in Jordan, lost loved ones are being buried under
2 kinds of art that prevailed in ancient world
their homes, believing that their spirits will remain in them even if
- Stationary art – drawn/sculptured in cave walls they have departed the living world.
- Portable art – involves small figurines
Geometric wall painting
Paleolithic era
- It was believed that this practice has been associated with
- Cave people resort to materials made from combination of burial purposes and if other context is applied like it is put
earth minerals, bones, coal, and ochre. into the walls, it was likely for interior design purposes.
- Period extends from 70,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE. While it is important to identify and contextualize the
- Purpose of which is to tell a story of how they struggled to purpose of these lines, let us also take into consideration on
meet ends and also, to show that raw materials can be also how these lines are made. Let us remember that during that
be used to these form of art. time, limited understanding of the materials used is one of
the difficult things that the people face when they are
Cave painting making these patterns.
- Depicts the presence of small and large animals in general. Stone circles
They also feature humans that look like they are doing some
chores like making fire, hunting large animals, and in some - These are megalithic standing stones erected about 3000-
cases, celebrate a certain event by dancing around the 2500 BCE. Some records say that as earliest as 7000 BCE,
bonfire. stone circles were already present.
- Other than the Stone circles in Scotland and England, there
Note: there is also an early record of stone carvings with linear and are also stone circle formations in Senegal and Nambia.
geometrical patterns, suggesting that early humans were already - Sine Ngayene complex is the largest area of stone circles in
capable of sculpting and is fit enough to think of other forms of art Senegal.
Neolithic era
We may never know the reason why they erected the monuments - During the 3rd to 2nd century BCE, they mostly focused on
but through careful analysis of their past culture, we can infer sculpturing and invented seal-making. Examples of these
possible observations like in the context of its placing and sculptures include:
formation, it is patterned to an extent that it acts as a calendar to o Bronze statues
make them feel close to the beings that they believe that will help o Stone statues
them guide to everlasting luck and prosperity. o Terracotta figures
- They also specialized in ornament making matters to
Ancient east civilizations
decorate themselves. Accessories include:
Mesopotamia is the “cradle of civilization” due to the following o Necklaces
reasons: o Rings
o Armlets
1. Geographical closeness to the European empire powers;
o Earrings, and
and
2. Holy Land itself. o Girdles.
- Beads are also made of the following:
Sumer o Cornelian
o Quartz
- They pioneered at ancient pottery, sculpting and
calligraphy. They are also responsible for the invention of o Amethyst
the first systemized form of writing, the cuneiform. o Lapis lazuli
- They would decorate their sculptures with stones and o Turquoise
minerals like lapis lazuli, alabaster, serpentine etc. o Steatite, and
- Most of these ornaments and decorative pieces were buried o Jasper crystal.
with their owners in what they call “royal cemetery”. It is
Akkadia
believed that burying the items with the dead owner may
help the lost loved one do not feel alone in the afterlife. - Focused mainly on stone and bronze/copper sculpturing.
- Their sculptures are focused on telling epic stories about the
Note: One of Sumer’s priced piece of artwork is a musical
king’s conquer of certain kingdoms.
instrument called the “bull lyre”. It is where the instrument is made
- In some cases, their statues have to do what they do for
from wood, bitumen, lapis lazuli, gold, silver, and seashells. There
living.
are also lyres with different animal heads that represent different
- Since they are an empire in general, their temples are likely
tempo when played.
full of stone sculptures of their kings.
Indus Valley
Assyria appearance. Southern Song artists painted hills and rivers with
softer and rubbed brushstrokes.
- One of the first successful empires of the ancient east. Kings
would make their artisans carve their faces on animals that Even with their difference in style and color mix, their purpose
represent their dignity and strength. remains the same, to connect with nature and achieve the sense of
- As history suggests, stone sculptures of ‘Lamassu” are tranquility and peace of mind.
present in the entrances and halls of their temples and
Ancient Indian art
buildings, suggesting that it is a form of intimidation to
show that they are not a race to mess with. Madhubani
Babylonia - A form of feminine art and is famous for depicting Hindu
gods, goddesses and other mythological deities.
- Mixing their art and architecture with bright shade of colors
- In modern approach, this style has been an instrument of
and the use of intricate details in linear patterns and
protest for ecological issues such as deforestation.
calligraphy, they pride themselves on being one of the
- The colors used for these paintings were derived from
grandest civilizations in the history.
natural resources such as leaves and flowers. Green color is
- The stone monuments and images they erected often
derived from bel leaves, orange is from the Palash flowers,
include astral symbols, animals, and other divine attributes.
and the red shade are from turmeric.
They serve to sanctify and protect the people and their rich
culture. Pattachitra
Chinese art - From the Sanskrit term “patta”, which means “cloth”.
“Chitra”, which means “picture”.
Ancient landscape drawing
- The paintings depict Lord Jagannath’s life, along with Lord
Two styles of landscape emerged. They are as follows: Krishna and Vishnu. Every cloth and palm canvas is
handmade, from the canvas to the brush used to color
1. Blue-Green landscape – employing line techniques, painted
them.
in high and meticulous sense of fashion.
2. Pomo (Broken ink) – using various shades of ink washes, Note: The drawing can be made in two canvasses. First is that it can
painted in ink monochrome manner. be handcrafted in a cotton cloth canvas. Second, it can be
handmade in a palm leaf canvas.
Note: Northern Song artists painted mountains in strong black lines,
ink wash, and done with sharp dotted brushstrokes for rough Warli
- This is tribal form of art originated in India. It has two types.
They are as follows:
o Ritualistic
o Non-ritualistic
- The paintings use shapes like circles, triangles, and squares
to depict and show nature and human ingenuity.
o Circle – Sun and Moon
o Triangle – mountains and trees
o Square – spaces of land

Ritualistic warli pattern

Purpose:

Connect the past, present, and future of human experience,

holding sacred importance.

Non-ritualistic warli pattern

Purpose:

Serves as a decorative purpose and depict scenes like

hunting and celebrate images of festivals. These paintings
not only add beauty, but also a glimpse of colorful tapestry
of the group’s daily routines and festivities.

Outline of colors

Both patterns exhibit shades of earth tones and a bit of

monochromatic influence for better depiction of daily
routines of what they do.