Jay Pedraza

Art History 20A

Discussion 1: Caves of Lascaux
The Lascaux images in the text were amazing. When you take into consideration the age
of these works (from about 15,000 BCE) and the folks that created them, you end up with more
questions than answers. From these images, I can easily conclude that these people were a lot
more complex creatively than I had imagined. The attention to detail, the techniques used and the
ability to manipulate space to tell a story (figure 1-12 has a man lying on his back while a bison
stands over him with an open belly) gives us a tiny glimpse into the creators’ mind. I believe
these paintings were probably a form of entertainment; the logical next step for an individual
with an inability to quiet the mind and remain still. A figeter, who most likely doodled shapes
with a stick or rock, transferring what they saw in their minds eye onto the surface in front of
them; qualities many if not all artists share. Perhaps the individuals who created these paintings
were unable to participate in the hunt or the gathering of food and instead contributed in this
way: Recording history in order to share experience with younger members (one natural and well
documented way for humans to learn is through the experience of others) or recording a vision or
even creating a fictional narrative mixing their past experience and grounded imaginations that
could be considered acute to the eventually fantastic fables and myth-types of storytelling that
would follow.
The question as to why the depiction of animals appears to be more important than of
humans is an even more difficult question to answer. I believe animals took priority to humans in
these paintings because they represented something greater, more instinctual: sustenance.
Animals contributed food, warmth and, in this case, fat for fueling light. Socializing and creating
strong narratives for individuals took a back seat. Life expectancy was most likely short and fear
high. The man in figure 1-12 may have been the bravest in the group and depicted as a simple
figure among the powerful, clearly defined beasts. No other members are depicted in that
painting suggesting the importance of that individual that can only be identified as bird-head
man.
These fantastic works of art are the few significant pieces of evidence we have for
understanding the people of this time. It would be a shame to lose them well before every
question we have for them is answered. Therefore, I agree with the French government’s
decision to close access to the site. At least until technology can allow us to indefinitely preserve
these delicate works, as humans we should try to keep them around if possible. It would be an
awesome experience to look at them in their natural state but the risk is too high. There are still
numerous discoveries to be made that may need to refer to these paintings, and not having them
would be tragic.