Unit Ii: Western Art History: Lesson 7: Art in Early Civilizations

Unit II: WESTERN ART HISTORY
Lesson 7: Art in Early Civilizations

Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, the students must be able to:
• Discuss how art was used by pre-historic people
depict everyday life;
• Identify the central themes of pre-historic art;
• Differentiate the techniques used during the three
kingdoms of early Egypt; and
• Explain how art is linked with religion in early
Egyptian civilization.
Introduction
• Stone Age - is the term used to describe a period of history when

stones were used to make tools for survival.
• Conjures - an image of men and women dressed in skins, huddling
before a fire in a cave. (Fitcher – Rathus. 2013)
• Storytellers – serve as the complex rational capabilities to tell their
story through written records and accounts, some artifacts in the
form of cave paintings and sculptures.
Three Periods of the Stone Age Culture (14,000 – 2,000 BCE)

• Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
• Neolithic (New Stone Age)
• Religious Symbols – most ancient artworks, a wide array of organisms from
the nature and activities of everyday life.
Prehistoric Art
Archaeological explorations reveal that there has been a gradual shift from
a nomadic lifestyle of early humans to those 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.
• Paleolithic Art – is a product of climate change. As a climate got colder, part
of the early humans instinct is to look for shelters that would provide them
with warmth.
• Caves – protective havens for the early humans and the birth of their first
attempt to create art.
• Hall of Bulls – a cave painting found in Lascaux, France.
Hall of Bulls
It also important to take note that the paintings evoke naturalism, which is
evidently seen through the contours of the animals’ body and their dark
colors. Although most people would think that early humans were primitive,
some of their art techniques were considered advanced for their time. Some
of the early humans already used their own version of spray-painting
techniques by using ground pigments blown through reed or hollowed-out
bones since there were the readily available materials for them.
Other techniques created the illusion of three-dimensional forms and
seemingly real representation of animals:
• Foreshortening
• Contrasting of lights and shadows
Some believed that there is a linkage between what was drawn and what
could happen in real life.
• Venus of Willendorf
• This figure is a highly abstracted woman from
highlighted body parts associated with fertility.
• Oversized breasts, enlarged hips, and round
abdomen.
• Representation may show the importance of
taking care of their body parts for procreation
and consequently the survival of species.
Venus of Willendorf
• Neolithic Art
-Has developed especially when life for the early
humans has become more stable.
-They have learned to cultivate the land and domestic
animals.
• Stonehenge
- One of several monumental and architectural
structures erected by 4000 BCE.
- It is still remains as one of the architectural wonders
the world has ever seen.
Stonehenge
Most early civilizations emerged and flourished in river valleys:
• Nile in Egypt
• Indus in India
• Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia
• Yellow River in China
• Egyptian Art
Fertile Ribbon
- starts from the banks of the Nile River, which flows north to Africa and ventures
into the Mediterranean.
- It is in this very ribbon where early Egyptians recognized the integral role of the
Nile River to their daily lives.
Three Periods of Egyptian Civilization
• Old Kingdom
• Middle Kingdom
• New Kingdom
Old Kingdom
-It was evident that religion was bound to the afterlife
Tombs - for keeping the dead bodies of important
people particularly pharaohs and served as a shelter for
the next journey, which is the afterlife.
Narmer Palette
- a cosmetic palate found in Egypt, a palatte that
utilized and applied dark colors around King Narmer’s
eyes.
-is one of the artifacts that emphasize the king’s
supreme and absolute authority.
King Narmer -he is wearing the crown of Lower
Egypt and holding some objects that denote
power.
Permanence – the sculptures would serve as the
house of the ka.
“ka” or soul - figures highlight the prime life of the
deceased
Narmer Palette
Old Kingdom
Great Pyramids of Giza
- during the old kingdom, it is served as tombs since their main purpose is
to provide a resting place for the pharaohs. There pyramids are massive in size
and were constructed using roughly more than two million limestone blocks.
Shift in the Political Hierarchy – one of the key features of the Middle Kingdom.
Hyksos – Asiatic tribe introduced Bronze Age weapons and horses to the
Egyptians.
New Kingdom – it was a time of expansionism through territorial acquisition.

During this period, Egypt has established itself as a more advanced and
powerful civilization.
Amarna Revolution
– lead by King Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti. After New
Kingdom, He moved the capital to Tel El-Amarna, thus the name
Amarna.
King Akhenaton
– During his reign, he wanted to revolutionize the arts and
religion. He later on changed his name from King Amenhotep to
Akhenaton, which came from Aton who is the god of sun.
Aton – during this period, the only god to be revered.

Naturalism – was not only used to depict the pharaoh but also
was used for members of the royal family.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
• The Bust of Queen Nefertiti – has a long and sensuous
neck, this figure was enhanced by applying paint to
the limestone.
• Tomb of Tutankhamen – one of the greatest
discoveries from the Egyptian Civilization. He became
king at a very young age and died at the age of
eighteen.
Howard Carter – who discovered Tomb of Tutankhamen
in 1922.

Bust of Queen Nefertiti
King Tutankhamen
Sources and References:

• Images from Creative Commons
• Brennan, Matthew. (Own work) Public Domain,
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3019459
• Denisenkov, D. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddenisen/7364440146/, CC BY-SA 2.0,
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25086034
• Giovanni, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8667900
• Hitchcock, Don. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.00], via Wikimedia Commons
• Jean88 (Own work). CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12308772
• Kallerna (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12168268
• Parrot, A (Own work), CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46239069

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Unit II: WESTERN ART HISTORY

Lesson 7: Art in Early Civilizations

• Stone Age - is the term used to describe a period of history when

Three Periods of the Stone Age Culture (14,000 – 2,000 BCE)

New Kingdom – it was a time of expansionism through territorial acquisition.

Aton – during this period, the only god to be revered.

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