Art in Early Civilizations

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Discuss how art was used by prehistoric people to depict everyday

life;

Identify the central themes of prehistoric art;

Differentiate the techniques used during the three kingdoms of early

Egypt; and

Explain how art is linked with religion in early Egyptian civilization.

Stone Age – is a term used to describe a period a history
when stones were used to make tools for survival.

Periods of Stone Age:

Paleolithic (the late years of the Old Stone Age)

Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
Neolithic (New Stone Age)
 Archeological artifacts and remains

- Provides modern society a glimpse of the beliefs, practices, and

activities of early civilizations.

 Early people

- Produced such materials that reflect their attitudes and belief

systems on spiritual, social, political, and economic matters.

 Art and architecture

- Were created from a wide array of materials from limestone to

precious gems and metals.

 Early humans

- Started to transition from being nomads to permanent settlers,

their everyday activities also had some changes.
Prehistoric Art:
 Archeological explorations reveal that there has been a gradual shift from a
nomadic lifestyle of early humans to that of permanent settlements, paving the
way for the rise of early civilizations.

 Stone Age has witnessed how humans were able to lead more stable lives and
eventually come up with permanent shelters and tools for survival.

 Early humans turned to the creation of paintings and sculptures that depict
humans, animals and their natural habitats.

 Central to the representation of early civilizations would be the establishing of

possible linkages among art, religion, and life.
Paleolithic Art – is a product of climate change.
 Asthe climate got colder, part of the early humans’ instinct is to look for shelters
that would provide them warmth.
 Caves became protective havens for the early humans;

these caves paved the way for the birth of their first attempts to create art.
 Cave paintings were created during the Paleolithic Period.
 these cave paintings evoke naturalism, which is evidently seen through the contours of
the animals body and their dark colors.
 most people would think that early humans were primitive, some of their techniques
were considered advanced for their time.

 Earlyhumans already used their own version of spray painting techniques by

using ground pigments blown through reeds or hollowed-out bones since these
were the readily available materials for them.
 they also worked with foreshortening and contrasting of lights and shadows. These
techniques created the illusion of three dimensional forms and seemingly real
representation of animals.
Mesolithic Art – refers to all arts and crafts created between the end of the
Paleolithic Ice Age

 the beginning of farming

 domestic crafts become more important
 Toput the Mesolithic into context, the two defining periods of the Stone Age
were the Paleolithic and the Neolithic era (meaning "Old Stone Age" and "new
Stone Age", respectively). Paleolithic man was a hunter-gatherer who followed
the herds of reindeer and other game animals in a continuous quest for food.
 hunter-gatherersdon't transform themselves into settled farmers overnight. So
in-between these two defining eras we find an elastic third period which acts as
a bridge between them. This third period is called the Mesolithic ("Middle Stone
Age").
Characteristics of Mesolithic
Art
• Rock Paintings - First, due to the warmer climate, Mesolithic rock
art moves from caves to outdoor sites such as vertical cliffs or sheer
faces of natural rock, often protected from the elements by
outcroppings or overhangs.
• Mesolithic Cave Painting - Not all Mesolithic rock paintings and 
petroglyphs were executed at open air sites. Artists continued to
decorate caves that provided essential shelter or were established
places of residence. 
• Mesolithic Sculpture - Mesolithic artists tended to produce mainly 
relief sculpture, such as the animal reliefs at Gobekli Tepe, although
they also carved a small amount of free standing sculpture, like the
anthropomorphic figurines discovered at Nevali Cori and Gobekli Tepe,
dating to the eighth and ninth millennia BCE.
 Art of
Emerging
Europe
Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify the major periods in Western art history;
2. Compare and contrast the artworks produced
during the different
3. Discuss the importance of art to the
development of Western culture.
 Classical World
• Greek and Roman Civilization

• Bothcultures aimed to embody the highest possible

standard quality in all aspects of their societies.

• When it comes to both art an architecture, both civilizations

intended to promote the possibility of having an objective
and widely accepted standards for beauty.
 Ancient Greece
• The Greeks were known to excel in various fields an aspects of society.
• The Greeks also valued poetry, drama, philosophy, painting, sculpture, and
architecture.
• Greeks are also known to place prime importance in the use of reason. For
this civilization, man was at the center of society and how they trained
their minds could be the very foundation of how they lived their lives.
Development of Greek Art:
• Geometric – was a time when Greece was starting to get back from the onslaught of
what seemed to be their Dark Age. It was a period when geometric shapes and patterns
have taken the spotlight in most of the artworks.
Development of Greek Art:
• Archaic – in this period, they placed importance on human figures. This was primarily a
result of Greece’s trading activities with their civilization. This is also the transition
period between Geometric and Classical Period.
Development of Greek Art:
• Classical - features realistic anatomy, serious expressions, pouty lips, and thick
eyelids. This period is the peak of Greek sculpture and architecture. It was
during this time when the Greeks found themselves rebuilding their temples
and focusing on creating artworks.
Development of Greek Art:
• Hellenistic – the time of Alexander the great. During this period, art was primarily
focused on showcasing emotions and depicting reality. Hellenistic sculptures started to
emphasize balance while showcasing dynamic poses and a number of emotions evoked
by the subjects.
 Ancient Rome
• Roman civilization came of age during Hellenistic Period.
• Romans were fond of the Greeks and their achievements in arts.
• Romans produced artworks that are often looking stern, harsh and strong.
• Romans invoked the principles of realism in most of their works
highlighting the features of human beings.
• They are known to be master builders which earned their reputation for
grad monuments and architectural infrastructures.
• Ancient Greece had a huge impact in the formation of Roman culture.
The Colosseum
This amphitheater was planned and constructed
during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. One of its
main uses was for entertainment purposes like public
events and gladiator games. This structure was a
concrete manifestation of Roman builders’
craftsmanship which focused on logical organization
of the entire edifice.
 Middle Ages

• It is a period between the decline of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.
• A period that is characterized by ignorance and darkness.
• Church was the central figure and authority of the period.
• PRINTING PRESS
• Great Cathedrals were also built.
 Romanesque (1050 – 1200) – inspired by the old roman empire
 Gothic (1200 – 1500) – had more northern flavor from the Goths, vulgar and barbarian.
 Cathedrals
Romanesque Gothic
 Renaissance Art
• HUMANISM greatly influenced art
 a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and
stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity
for self-realization through reason

• Artists valued the “individual” as a subject of arts

• Most artworks emphasized naturalism.
• Most artists added perspective of depth;
 This technique added a three-dimensional perspective
of most Renaissance painting

• Renaissance artists also give importance to non-

religious themes/subjects.
• There was also a revival of Roman theatrical plays
 Renaissance Art
• There was also a revival of Roman theatrical plays;
 These plays were performed during special occasions at the courts and Italian princes.
 The plays were done in such a way that showcased grand and lavish entertainment for the audience.
 Aside from the song and dance numbers, they invested in elaborate stages and costumes for the actors.
Mannerism
• a period in art history which was a product of the Renaissance Period.