The first artists lived during prehistoric times before written history. They created cave paintings and petroglyphs that provide insights into their world. Cave paintings were made by applying pigments like ochre to cave walls, allowing us to learn about the animals that lived at that time like horses, bison, and reindeer. Petroglyphs involved carving or pecking designs into rock and may have represented early forms of pre-writing symbols. Some of the most famous cave paintings were discovered in 1940 at the Lascaux Caves in France, depicting hundreds of animals.

1. The First Artists

2. The first artists lived in prehistoric times.
This is the time before history was written down.

3. •We can learn many
things from the art
found on cave walls
and rocks.
•The first artists lived
in caves.
Cave
Dwellers
•One of the things we
know is the kinds of
animals that lived at
that time.

4. Do you recognize any of the
animals?
reindeer bison
bull horse

5. Two important early forms of art
Cave Paintings
Painting on a cave wall;
Also called pictographs
Design and images
carved into rock
& Petroglyphs

6. Petroglyphs are found all over the world, including
the United States.
Petroglyphs

7. •Petroglyphs are symbols
that stand for something.
•These symbols were
an early form of pre-
writing.

8. Here are more examples of petroglyphs.

9. Petroglyphs are sometimes known as Rock Art.

10. Do you see any recognizable symbols?

11. Cave Painting
(also called Pictographs)

12. •In 1940, four French
teenage boys were
looking for their dog
in the woods.
•They accidentally
discovered the
Lascaux Caves.
•The walls of these
caves were covered
with paintings.
•The paintings are
examples of some of
the world’s best
stone age art.
Lascaux
Caves

13. There were paintings of hundreds of animals including
horses, stags, bulls, bison and reindeer.

14. This painting is from the “Great Hall of Bulls” in Lascaux

15. Five Horses and a Cow
More Examples of Cave Painting

16. Bull with Red and Brown Horses
Look Closely.
Can you see the bull?

17. Hands, Hands and More Hands
What can we learn from these hands?

18. Horses & Bulls

19. What did we learn?
•Who were the first artists?
•How do we know about their
world?
•What animals lived
then?
Cave Dwellers
From the artwork they made
on the walls of caves and rocks
Horses, Bulls, Reindeer and more

20. Painting or Petroglyph?
Painting

21. Painting or Petroglyph?
Painting

22. Painting or Petroglyph?
Petroglyph

23. Painting or Petroglyph?
Painting

24. Painting or Petroglyph?
Petroglyph

25. The End
Slideshow created by Vicki Sheskin, Art Teacher, Hawley School, Newtown, CT
2008 - 2009