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Ch. 1 AP Art History (The Birth of Art) Questions
and Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Venus of Willendorf
Ans: Named for its find spot in Austria, is a tiny(approx 4.25 inches.) limestone
figurine composed of a cluster of ball-like shapes. Exaggeration of breasts and
middle of body, along with the outline of pubic area point it to being a symbol of
womanhood and fertility. Approx. 28,000 - 23,000 B.C.E.
Cro-Magnon
Ans: These humans first appeared at about 30,000 B.C.E and replaced Neanderthals.
Considered the first true fabricators of art.
hand imprints
Ans: Found most clearly in the Pech-Merle Caves. Provides evidence that most
people were right handed(as most of these are of the left hand. Most are negative.
May have been magical symbols or signatures.
Abstraction
Ans: The creation of image and symbol. In prehistory took place mainly in secret
caverns.
Marquis de Sautuola
Ans: In 1879 this french noble and his daughter were the first to discover cave
paintings on his Estate in Altamira near Santander, Spain.
Altamira Caves
Ans: Location where 1st cave paintings were discovered by de Sautuola in 1879.
Date from 14,000 to 12,000 BC. These cave paintings were declared forgeries at the
Lisbon Congress of Prehistoric Archaeology but later redeemed in 1896.
Ochre
Ans: A type of earth, ranging in colour from pale yellow to orange and red, that can
be used to make pigments for painting. Was used frequently in cave paintings and is
also prominent(red ochre) on the Venus of Laussel.
Profile
Ans: The predominant way that the animals and humans were depicted through
Paleolithic-Neolithic ages, with the exception of some twisted perspective. This
allowed for greater accuracy and a broader depiction of the subjects.
Ariel view
Ans: Dead animals in a large amount of the cave paintings are depicted in this way,
so that they seem to float above the observers head.
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Groups
Ans: It would be wrong to say that the animals in the cave paintings are in _________.
Rather it seems that they were painted at different times, do not stand on common
ground, or have a common orientation.
Hall of Bulls
Ans: Located at the opening of the cave at Lascaux. Animals here were painted
mainly using colored silhouettes which differs with the Altamira Caves use of
outline.
Twisted perspective
Ans: A convention of representation in which part of a figure is shown in profile and
another part of the same figure is shown frontally, prominent in the cave paintings
of the prehistoric era(examples are horns of bulls, human torso paintings in
Mesolithic age.)
optical
Ans: Means that artwork is organized from a fixed viewpoint, similar to twisted
perspective.
Chinese Horse
Ans: Prehistoric art which comes from the Caves of Lascaux. Prime example of the
magical component that may have involved these paintings because of possible
arrows that were thrown at the painting.
Pech-Merle Caves
Ans: Cave that displays prominent human handprints. Also has distinctive spotted
horses. Approximately 14,000-12,000 B.C.E
Composition
Ans: The way in which motifs are arranged on the surface.
Wounded man
Ans: Found in the Lascaux caves. Is one of the first appearances of man in cave
paintings. It is bird faced and lays next to a rhinoceros that appears to be attacking
it. Really first evidence of the narrative compositions in art history.
Venus of Laussel
Ans: One of the first relief sculptures known. Named for the region in France that it
was found in. Composed of limestone and is colored with red ochre. Bulbous forms
and exaggeration of hips and breasts are present. Also depicts the woman holding a
bison horn. Approximately 18 inches high (23,000 - 20,000 B.C.E)
Reclining Women
Ans: Sculpture that show artists use of natural contours as the basis for
representation. Found in the rock wall of the La Magdeliane cave in France. Use of
stone chisels were used to create the outline and add internal details. Woman(50%
lifesize) is lying down and lacks a head. 12,000 B.C.E
Ch. 1 AP Art History (The Birth of Art) Questions
and Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Venus of Willendorf
Ans: Named for its find spot in Austria, is a tiny(approx 4.25 inches.) limestone
figurine composed of a cluster of ball-like shapes. Exaggeration of breasts and
middle of body, along with the outline of pubic area point it to being a symbol of
womanhood and fertility. Approx. 28,000 - 23,000 B.C.E.
Cro-Magnon
Ans: These humans first appeared at about 30,000 B.C.E and replaced Neanderthals.
Considered the first true fabricators of art.
hand imprints
Ans: Found most clearly in the Pech-Merle Caves. Provides evidence that most
people were right handed(as most of these are of the left hand. Most are negative.
May have been magical symbols or signatures.
Abstraction
Ans: The creation of image and symbol. In prehistory took place mainly in secret
caverns.
Marquis de Sautuola
Ans: In 1879 this french noble and his daughter were the first to discover cave
paintings on his Estate in Altamira near Santander, Spain.
Altamira Caves
Ans: Location where 1st cave paintings were discovered by de Sautuola in 1879.
Date from 14,000 to 12,000 BC. These cave paintings were declared forgeries at the
Lisbon Congress of Prehistoric Archaeology but later redeemed in 1896.
Ochre
Ans: A type of earth, ranging in colour from pale yellow to orange and red, that can
be used to make pigments for painting. Was used frequently in cave paintings and is
also prominent(red ochre) on the Venus of Laussel.
Profile
Ans: The predominant way that the animals and humans were depicted through
Paleolithic-Neolithic ages, with the exception of some twisted perspective. This
allowed for greater accuracy and a broader depiction of the subjects.
Ariel view
Ans: Dead animals in a large amount of the cave paintings are depicted in this way,
so that they seem to float above the observers head.
, 2 Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
Groups
Ans: It would be wrong to say that the animals in the cave paintings are in _________.
Rather it seems that they were painted at different times, do not stand on common
ground, or have a common orientation.
Hall of Bulls
Ans: Located at the opening of the cave at Lascaux. Animals here were painted
mainly using colored silhouettes which differs with the Altamira Caves use of
outline.
Twisted perspective
Ans: A convention of representation in which part of a figure is shown in profile and
another part of the same figure is shown frontally, prominent in the cave paintings
of the prehistoric era(examples are horns of bulls, human torso paintings in
Mesolithic age.)
optical
Ans: Means that artwork is organized from a fixed viewpoint, similar to twisted
perspective.
Chinese Horse
Ans: Prehistoric art which comes from the Caves of Lascaux. Prime example of the
magical component that may have involved these paintings because of possible
arrows that were thrown at the painting.
Pech-Merle Caves
Ans: Cave that displays prominent human handprints. Also has distinctive spotted
horses. Approximately 14,000-12,000 B.C.E
Composition
Ans: The way in which motifs are arranged on the surface.
Wounded man
Ans: Found in the Lascaux caves. Is one of the first appearances of man in cave
paintings. It is bird faced and lays next to a rhinoceros that appears to be attacking
it. Really first evidence of the narrative compositions in art history.
Venus of Laussel
Ans: One of the first relief sculptures known. Named for the region in France that it
was found in. Composed of limestone and is colored with red ochre. Bulbous forms
and exaggeration of hips and breasts are present. Also depicts the woman holding a
bison horn. Approximately 18 inches high (23,000 - 20,000 B.C.E)
Reclining Women
Ans: Sculpture that show artists use of natural contours as the basis for
representation. Found in the rock wall of the La Magdeliane cave in France. Use of
stone chisels were used to create the outline and add internal details. Woman(50%
lifesize) is lying down and lacks a head. 12,000 B.C.E
