What Is Paleolithic Art?: Cave Paintings and the Dawn of Human Creativity

The author is certainly learned in the field of Paleolithic art. He lists 48 sources either written by him or together with other archeologists. Extensive travels causes the reader to visit 5 continents spanning 35,000 years within a four chapters. Multiple explanations of the artwork are provided but many are rejected immediately after. The interpretation for the majority of Paleolithic art is that shamanic males were producing ritualistic or spiritual displays. Man is an integral part of nature and all of its supposed forces. I enjoyed the work but was repeatedly frustrated by a lack of a chart displaying archeological time units. Secondly, the lack of maps for more detailed understanding of the intricacies of the extensive cave systems were needed. A map is provided but the names of the locations described don't seem to match the labels given. Despite the distractions, the author's efforts are well received. Displays using children's footprints, fractured bone and the contour of rock surfaces to project a communication are captivating. Thoroughly enjoyed the book!

The thing I most dislike about this book is all the yellow underlining on most of the pages. It's very distracting because your eyes are drawn to the bright yellow. Why do people have to spoil books for others in this manner? Not something I have ever done or I hope would do.The best thing I can say is that the book is interesting and well written and it arrived in a timely manner.

No one seems to know the caves and their art like M. Clottes.This book is instructive, illuminating, and fascinating. It's well written, as well. I'll probably read it again.The conclusions are sensible, and seem to fit well with other things I think I understand.I have read several books on cave art; this is one of the best (so far).

This book is not simply an historical record of prehistoric art, but shows how prehistoric paleolithic artists used site-specific methods of drawing, painting, and printing, that many thought were a 20th century creation of 'modern art'. Brilliant perceptive insights into the making of art, written by archaeologist Jean Clottes.

this book deserves more than 5 stars as it demonstrates how people living 30,000 years ago had a pretty good idea about how to express their reverence for nature and their gratitude to the animals that sustained their existence. the art is highly spiritual as well as beautifully accurate, easily delineating what has been lost in the modern era.

Classic archeologist with classic interpretation of cave art.

I was expecting more photographs

This book took me on a journey back in time.Well written. Detailed. Thought provoking.

Here we have a carefully researched, beautifully written, fascinating account of paleolithic art, its origins, how it developed and for what reasons. The French author, Jean Clottes, how such art developed from exploring minds seeking reassurance, explanations and understanding of the world around them. I feel indebted to translators Oliver Y Martin and Robert D Martin for rendering this work into such very readable English.One of the truly wonderful facts about this work is how it reveals the evolution of human thought processes and how such things as religion were formed by such processes. Religion was kind of like the beginnings of philosophy and science, which are still struggling to take over from it as it comes to be realised that high moral standards and religion are not the same thing. We see from the cave art how humans even a very long time ago were seeking to discover and interpret the world around them. . This is the kind of work you can return to over and over again, dipping into it and finding both comfort and inspiration. Reading it helps us to cherish all that is best about being human and inspires us to be better humans.The work is divided into five sections: An introduction, three chapters and a conclusion. The chapters are entitled: 1: What is the correct way to approach art in caves and shelters? 2: Encountering multiple realities on other continents. 3. Functions of art and the artists. Notes, bibliography and an index are also included along with a few helpfully placed illustrations. Those early cave artists were so very like us - us minus the accumulated misconceptions delivered through the passing of time.. Did those early cave artists have misconceptions? Their art shows us they were trying not to have. We can learn from them.

The WHY is the question and to me the comparison with contemporaneous indigenous people, particularly Australia, is obvious. I have been to the new museum in Chauvet and it was breath taking. This book was critical in the preparation as it goes into the circumstances of the uses of the caves. I was astonished at the dogmatism that exists amongst researchers and hope that wide co-operation is now more often than not the rule: at a prolific site in South Africa a global call from the lead researcher went out for collaborators! There is so much more to learn and Jean Clottes is clearly in a key position to collate it. I think a more exhaustive book is still in the waiting.

A+++

I have many books on Paleolithic art but this one, in particular, puts all the pieces together. Who were the artists, how did they create the art, why did they create it, what do we know about their world, how should we view the art and how can we interpret it even though we will never have all the answers? He breaks down the scientific research into smaller categories and presents the most relevant information in a way that is simple to understand.Jean Clottes is one of the top experts in the field and this book is very well researched and detailed. The language is simple, direct and clear. I am very glad they are translating his work into English so that we may benefit from his knowledge. I highly recommend this book!

Somewhat of a hodgepodge this is still a very worthwhile contribution to the field. Written with respect and a humility rare to the academy, this work is ideally read as a second or third book on the history of paleolithic art, but not as an initial foray into the caves.