Saelee 1

Monae Saelee

Professor Cooper

ART-01-72801

Final Essay

The Paleolithic period can be known as the Old Stone Age. This period is characterized

by cave paintings, carvings of animals, humans, and abstract symbols. These artworks were

created using natural pigments such as red and yellow ochre, charcoal, and manganese oxide.

The paintings and carvings were often used for religious or ceremonial purposes, and they

provide valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of early humans. Art pieces such as the

Venus of Hohle Fels is known to be the oldest undisputed depiction of a female human being.

This historical figure was founded over 35,000 years ago. It was found in a cave near

Schelklinge southern Germany. The Venus of Hohle Fels is made from mammoth ivory. The

Venus of Hohle Fels belongs to the early Aurignacian from the very beginning of the Paleolithic

period. This female figure that can be depicted from the Venus of Hohle Fels can be a

representation of and a deity or female ancestor, that can be a symbolization of fertility and

abundance. Seeing that females can be shown to bring life and creativity into the world.

Therefore, the Venus of Hohle Fels can be a symbolization of how females can bring life into the

world and be a way of praising the female form for what it is capable of doing.

During the Neolithic period, known as the New Stone Age, that began around 10,000

B.C., pottery and sculpture became more prominent, and the use of metal began. In the Near

East, the art of the period was characterized by stylized human and animal forms, often used for

religious or symbolic purposes. The Ain Ghazal statues can be an example of this. Elements that

can be found in the statues of Ain Ghazal from 5,000 – 7,000 BCE include an insight into
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people's daily rituals and lives in the Neolithic era because of its inhabitants. You are able to

interpret representations of fertility and abundance when being shown interpretations of hunting.

These sculptures also show representations of how people from the neolithic era may have

looked and give you images of perception when being viewed. Elements of molded lips, brow

lines, and chins give detailed descriptions of how people may have looked. The art of ancient

Egypt was also often used for religious purposes, and the human form was stylized and idealized.

Egyptian art is characterized by hieroglyphics, which were used to convey meaning through

pictures and symbols.

In ancient Greece, the Greek civilization began around 800 B.C. Art can be seen more

realistically and focused on human anatomy and proportion. The art of the Archaic period was

characterized by stylized, idealized figures, while the art of the Classical period was more

naturalistic and focused on balance and harmony. The Hellenistic period saw a greater emphasis

on emotion and movement, with artists looking to convey drama and passion in their works. An

example of this can be seen in the Discobolus statue of Myron. This sculpture was originally

made from elements of bronze, but it was lost, and a Roman marble copy was made in 450 BCE.

The Roman marble copy is comprised of motion and proportion throughout the entire sculpture.

The sculpture is known for with excellent description of the human body's range of motion. It

also represents absolute, ideal, and divine beauty within the male to show religious admiration

and sexual desire.

Ancient Rome had become a democracy followed by overthrowing the monarchy around

509 BC. They had elected people into office and debated laws. In ancient Rome, art was used for

propaganda and to glorify the emperor and the state. Roman art was often realistic and focused

on portraiture, with sculptures of emperors and other important figures being used to convey
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power and authority. Roman art also featured intricate mosaics and frescoes, which were used to

decorate public and private spaces. Art from Rome often depicted images of nudity in their

portraits to enhance the realism of their art. This could also be seen as an invocation of human's

natural beauty because Greeks has believed nudity to be idealistic and powerful to be seen.

In conclusion, the art of the Paleolithic period to the Roman period is characterized by a

wide range of stylistic forms, materials, and techniques. These artworks provide valuable

insights into the beliefs, practices, and values of the societies that created them. In ancient art

you can see the progression different art styles and forms throughout different periods of time.

They all have their own similarities, such as defining and implementing the beauty of the human

body. They also show defined characteristics of what the human body is and can be capable of.

These ancient pieces of art continue to inspire and captivate people today.
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Work Cited

Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, et al. “Paleolithic Art, an Introduction.” Smarthistory,

smarthistory.org/paleolithic-art-an-introduction/. Accessed 26 June 2023.

Ain Ghazal Statues,

www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/materialworlds/2505.html.

Accessed 28 June 2023.

Artincontext. “Discobolus Statue - a Look at the Disc Thrower Statue from Greek Art.”

Artincontext.Org, 28 Apr. 2022, artincontext.org/discobolus-statue/.

Sutori, www.sutori.com/en/story/historical-timeline-the-paleolithic-era-to-the-roman-republic--

3B75Pg6vmDkF2C1CZ4GXPnUv. Accessed 29 June 2023.

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