Synopsis

The Cave Painters is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain—the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor and mystery.

Gregory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes us through various theories—that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology—examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich in detail, personalities, and history, The Cave Painters is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed—perhaps for the first time—both the ability for abstract thought and a profound and beautiful way to express it.

Review

The Cave Painters: Probing the Mysteries of the World’s First Artists by Gregory Curtis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Story/Writing
This book featured everything from the first excavations of the first expressions of art through paint as we know them. It included how people of the past depicted the celebrations of everyday life and culture as well as dispelling errors in perception, interpretation, and preservation.

I learned an incredible amount from the book and it was consistently intriguing. I feel I can appreciate art with a much more greater understanding as to how the paintings were accomplished with hard work and respect and perceive art in more depth in a more general way as well.

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