Lesson 1 - Altamira: A look at early cave art

Did you ever wonder when art began? Who were the first artists? Many people have asked those questions. The Cave at Altamira in Northern Spain gives us some clues about the beginnings of art. It's clear that man has been making art for thousands of years.

Image of Altamira Bison courtesy of Mark Harden's Artchive

The story of the discovery of the Cave at Altamira has become a legend. In 1879, a twelve-year-old Spanish girl named Maria shouted to her father that she saw pictures of bulls on the stone ceiling of a cave they were exploring. Maria's father Marcelino de Sautuolo was interested in archaeology. There are many caves in this part of northern Spain. Don Marcelino liked to take his daughter and explore them. He would often find prehistoric weapons and tools. On this day in 1879, however, he made a discovery that would change his life. Maria had gone into a part of the cave that only a child could reach. In the candlelight, she saw amazing pictures of bulls that were painted right on the rock wall. Don Marcelino stooped to see what his daughter was so excited about. On the ceiling of the cave were painted groups of animals in shades of black, brown, red, and yellow. There were bison, deer, horses, and wild boar. The outcroppings of the rock had been skillfully used to give the paintings depth and dimension. Some of the animals were life-size. All were amazingly realistic.

Don Marcelino knew that this was an important discovery. It was evident from some of the stone tools in the cave that this was a very ancient site. The paintings at Altamira would eventually prove to be at least fifteen thousand years old, done by artists who lived during the Stone Age. The Stone Age is also called the Paleolithic period in history. Most Paleolithic people were hunters and gatherers, lived in caves and temporary shelters, made stone tools, and used fire to keep warm and cook food. These people are sometimes called the first modern humans. They are also called Cro-Magnons, after the rock formation where their tools were first discovered. These people had no written language or alphabet, but as Altamira proves, they could communicate through paintings.

Don Marcelino was convinced that the paintings at Altamira represented the work of Paleolithic man. Other archaeologists could not accept that the paintings were genuine. At that time, it was believed that Paleolithic man was not capable of creating art of such beauty and sensitivity. Don Marcelino was accused of faking the paintings, and he died a few years later, a very disappointed man. It wasn't until after Don Marcelino's death that the paintings at Altamira were considered authentic. There were other signs of Stone Age man - tools and remains of food that had been preserved in the cave for thousands of years - that helped authenticate the cave. The paintings of Altamira, deep within the hidden rooms inside the cave, had not been disturbed for centuries.

The paintings at Altamira are mainly of bison. It is clear that these Stone Age people knew these animals well. The detailed nature of the paintings shows that the bison were closely observed by these hunter/artists. Many of the figures appear to be moving. The artists used the natural curve and bulge of the rock to give their animals more depth. Perhaps the rock protrusions gave the artists the idea for making their paintings there in the first place. The technical skill of the paintings shows a real understanding of detail. For instance, the hair and coat of the animals is very carefully drawn.

Another unusual feature of the paintings is the use of shading. Most cave paintings found after Altamira are of one color, usually black. The animals of Altamira are painted with several colors - also called polychrome - and are carefully shaded. These artists used a mineral called ochre for their colored paint. Ochre is found in shades of red, yellow, and brown, all of which are used at Altamira. To get black, charcoal was used. You can see the shading technique used. The animals are lighter at the center, and darker at the edge, giving the illusion of the animal turning away from the viewer.

What is clear is that the paintings were made in very difficult conditions. Artists today would complain about the cold, the damp, and the dark nature of the cave. The artists of Altamira had to paint by lamp light, painting on their backs, working in the dim cold cave. Animal bones were used to make primitive lamps. Bone marrow or animal fat provided fuel for their flame.

Why do these paintings exist? What did Paleolithic man hope to convey by making these paintings? No one knows for sure. There are many theories about why the paintings exist. One idea says that early humans believed that drawing an image of a bison would put the actual animal under his control. The artist would then have a kind of magical power over it. If an image of an animal was captured on the wall of a cave, then the real animal would be easier to catch. Since Stone Age man had to hunt to survive, not being able to bring in food was a death sentence. Another theory says that the drawings were part of some secret ritual or ceremony, such as a coming-of-age celebration for young boys. This idea is supported by the secret nature of the paintings, hidden deep within the cave, not exposed to rain or sun, and not used as a shelter or home. Perhaps the paintings were made simply because these prehistoric artists wanted to honor these great beasts that they needed and hunted. Like the Native Americans, who drew pictures of deer and buffalo on their teepees and on rocks, perhaps these earlier artists simply wanted to pay tribute to the animals. We will never know for sure.

QUIZ:  The Cave at Altamira: Lesson 1

PROJECT:  Make your own caveman paint!

Back then, they didn't go to the store to buy markers, paints, or crayons. They made their own art supplies with natural materials. For example, using the burnt embers from a fire would make a good black when mixed with water. Or crushing some blackberries would make an excellent purple. So, time to go on a scavenger hunt for supplies! Whenever you have a question on an item, ask yourself..."Would a caveman have access to this?" You'll be using your created art supplies for the next lesson, so make sure you have plenty to work with for later.

Step 1: Divide your paper into ten squares.
Step 2: Once you find an item that might work, such as a raspberry, you can do one of two things. 1. Mix it with a little bit of water or egg white and apply to paper with paintbrush 2. Grind it into the paper and apply to one of the squares on the paper. LABEL IT with the name of the item used.
Step 3: You could try mixing some of the items together, such as a raspberry with charcoal to see what other colors you can get. Step 4: Try to get the following colors: yellow, purple, black, blue, brown, red, orange, and green.

TURNING IN YOUR WORK. Use a digital camera to photograph your art (or scan it), upload the image to your computer, name the file with your name and the project name and save it in JPG format, e.g., marydcavemanpaint.jpg. Then, click here to submit your work electronically; OR snail mail your artwork to me. Be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you'd like your work returned.

You will be finished with this lesson after you take the quiz and submit your project. When done, go on to lesson two.