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Cave Art
This book reveals some of the world’s oldest and most remarkable works of art, the discovery of which transformed the way we think about the development of human artistic endeavour and creativity. A guided tour of European prehistoric caves by world-renowned expert Jean Clottes, Cave Art brings together an unparalleled selection of spectacular and beautiful images of wall paintings, mysterious rock engravings and refined sculptures, all accompanied by accessible, informative text.
340 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2008
About the author
Jean Clottes
50 books9 followersPrehistoriador francés. Nació en el Pirineo francés en 19331 y comenzó a estudiar Arqueología en 1959, durante la enseñanza secundaria. Inicialmente se centró en los dólmenes neolíticos, que eran el tema de su tesis doctoral de 1975 en la Universidad de Toulouse. Después de ser nombrado director de las antigüedades prehistóricas de Mediodía-Pirineos en 1971, comenzó a estudiar arte rupestre prehistórico con el fin de cumplir con las responsabilidades de esta posición.
Durante los años siguientes lideró una serie de excavaciones de yacimientos prehistóricos de la región. En 1992, fue nombrado Inspector General de Arqueología del Ministerio de Cultura de Francia y en 1993 también como asesor científico de arte rupestre prehistórico en el Ministerio de Cultura francés. Se retiró oficialmente en 1999, pero sigue estando aun activo como colaborador de campo.
Durante los años siguientes lideró una serie de excavaciones de yacimientos prehistóricos de la región. En 1992, fue nombrado Inspector General de Arqueología del Ministerio de Cultura de Francia y en 1993 también como asesor científico de arte rupestre prehistórico en el Ministerio de Cultura francés. Se retiró oficialmente en 1999, pero sigue estando aun activo como colaborador de campo.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 29, 2018
I came to this book by way of Werner Herzog's exceptional cave-painting documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which really is the mind-blowing, overwhelming emotional experience that all the reviews proclaim it to be. I never was that interested in Paleolithic cave painting, but now I am a little obsessed with it.
This book is meticulously assembled by Jean Clottes, a world-renowned expert in cave art who makes a small appearance in the Herzog film (alas, he's not the guy in the animal pelt playing "Star-Spangled Banner" on a bone flute. I want to marry that guy.) It's a work of art in itself. Beautiful and abundant full-color pictures of cave paintings and sculptures mostly from Europe-95% of found cave paintings are in France and Spain-but also Africa and Australia. The accompanying text provides lots of information but also lets the art speak for itself. Included in the abundant reference materials are maps of some of the most famous caves (Lascaux, Niaux, Chauvet) and a list of sites that are open to the public.
I am in love with this labor of love. Considering that some of these sites, like Chauvet, are not open to the public this is your best chance to see them with a charismatic expert guide.
This book is meticulously assembled by Jean Clottes, a world-renowned expert in cave art who makes a small appearance in the Herzog film (alas, he's not the guy in the animal pelt playing "Star-Spangled Banner" on a bone flute. I want to marry that guy.) It's a work of art in itself. Beautiful and abundant full-color pictures of cave paintings and sculptures mostly from Europe-95% of found cave paintings are in France and Spain-but also Africa and Australia. The accompanying text provides lots of information but also lets the art speak for itself. Included in the abundant reference materials are maps of some of the most famous caves (Lascaux, Niaux, Chauvet) and a list of sites that are open to the public.
I am in love with this labor of love. Considering that some of these sites, like Chauvet, are not open to the public this is your best chance to see them with a charismatic expert guide.
February 13, 2009
A very beautiful book, huge and stuffed with photos of Palaeolithic art--paintings, stencils, etchings, sculptures and portable artifacts. The introduction is brief yet informative and gives a glimpse at the major theories about why the art was done.
The book is then separated into four sections, roughly corresponding to the various epochs delineated by scientists that span from 35,000 years ago to 11,000 years ago. The major caves--mostly in France and Spain and some elsewhere--are covered, with photos of various pieces, along with descriptions of the cave, the history of its discovery or habitation, and information about the art displayed.
I love cave art, mostly the depictions of animals, and I learned a lot from this book. I had no idea these ancient people's were so obssessed with drawing and carving vulvas!
The last section of the book is the shortest and covers various sites from around the world from the last 10,000 years. There are also maps of some of the caves, maps of where they are located, and a list of public accessible sites.
The only improvement I would have liked to see is a brief overview on the daily life of Palaeolithic peoples so we could get a better sense of their art in the context of their day to day living (but maybe they don't know so that's why it isn't in here).
This thing is huge and expensive so you'll have to inter-library loan it if you are interested.
The book is then separated into four sections, roughly corresponding to the various epochs delineated by scientists that span from 35,000 years ago to 11,000 years ago. The major caves--mostly in France and Spain and some elsewhere--are covered, with photos of various pieces, along with descriptions of the cave, the history of its discovery or habitation, and information about the art displayed.
I love cave art, mostly the depictions of animals, and I learned a lot from this book. I had no idea these ancient people's were so obssessed with drawing and carving vulvas!
The last section of the book is the shortest and covers various sites from around the world from the last 10,000 years. There are also maps of some of the caves, maps of where they are located, and a list of public accessible sites.
The only improvement I would have liked to see is a brief overview on the daily life of Palaeolithic peoples so we could get a better sense of their art in the context of their day to day living (but maybe they don't know so that's why it isn't in here).
This thing is huge and expensive so you'll have to inter-library loan it if you are interested.
April 30, 2015
Jean Clottes has put together what he calls a personal museum in a book - in this case a coffee-table sized tome covering over 20,000 years of European cave art. While the scope is perhaps too ambitious, it's hard to complain about the gorgeous 4-color illustrations and the explanations that accompany them. Finally, the reader gets a chance to really observe these amazing paintings, from Chauvet (over 30,000 years old) and Lascaux (22,000 years old) as well as Niaux (11,000 years old). The book is, as Clottes hoped, a personal tour of these caves, some of which are now closed to the public.
And the research is up to date, giving all the new insights into the art's purpose and execution.
If you're interested in ancient rock art, especially from Chauvet and Lascaux, this book will be a treat.
And the research is up to date, giving all the new insights into the art's purpose and execution.
If you're interested in ancient rock art, especially from Chauvet and Lascaux, this book will be a treat.
January 5, 2009
This is a gorgeous book, although the ink made me a little light-headed, which has never happened to me before. Must be the expensive, durable, art-book ink.
The reproductions are beautiful, and there is a full description of provenance and media for each reproduction. The author is an expert in the field, and like many experts, he has a tendency to use phrases such as "obviously" and "without doubt." Knowing how controversial some interpretations of these artworks can be, I can safely say that those phrases are unjustified. Still, I appreciated almost all of Clottes's explications.
The reproductions are beautiful, and there is a full description of provenance and media for each reproduction. The author is an expert in the field, and like many experts, he has a tendency to use phrases such as "obviously" and "without doubt." Knowing how controversial some interpretations of these artworks can be, I can safely say that those phrases are unjustified. Still, I appreciated almost all of Clottes's explications.
November 17, 2008
I rarely buy books this expensive, but after reading a long review (in the New Yorker, I think) I ordered it. It's my new bedtime reading – talk about taking the "long view"! – it sets me dreaming across vast distances of time. The art is itself is astonishing.
February 28, 2017
This book is glorious and spans the career of its author Jean Clottes. The photographs are large, high quality and spectacular.
October 20, 2017
Cet ouvrage est riche en photos, et l'on voit clairement l'art évoluer en fonction des trois époques : Chauvet, Lascaux, et Niaux.
March 18, 2025
You will definitely get your fill of cave art with this stylish book. It could have easily been doomed for the coffee table but it has substance as well as style. Clottes painstakingly provides an informative blurb for each piece discussed complete with its history, a description, and commentary. I enjoyed that a lot of famous pieces were shown from an unusual angle and that Clottes gives alternative explanations to recurring motifs or specific works which sometimes run counter to dominant narratives. He takes a sweeping, objective approach where no stone is left unturned. I personally found much of his writing to be quite dry and more like a litany of facts although here and there he includes some interesting food for thought. Probably only the very enthusiastic reader will actually go through everything he has written instead of flipping through the pages because his descriptions of each artwork can feel excessively exacting and monotonous. However, the cool way in which this book has been styled makes it inherently approachable for the layman instead of relegating it to something purely academic. I also really appreciated that he included examples of cave art from places other than Europe as well as maps explaining the layout of major caves. This could be a wonderful book for those who have a niche interest in the subject, and its style is an added bonus. He set out to create a kind of museum and he achieved this.
January 24, 2021
Beautiful and comprehensive, "Cave Art" offers an excellent overview of prehistoric artistry. Academic in tone but accessible, the book shares cave art, largely from Spain and France, walking us through different eras of creativity.
Author Jean Clottes begins with a short history of more modern efforts to excavate and interpret cave art. This informs his analysis of what the different pieces throughout the book might represent, even as he indicates that it's essentially impossible to "know" exactly what the arts "mean" without access to the culture and context surrounding their creation.
The art itself is the centerpiece here, with large-scale color photos of beautiful bison and intricate carvings...and sure, lines and dots and triangular scratches on the wall. Altogether, "Cave Art" makes the reader appreciate both the capacity of the people who created this art and the mysteries that remain in their wake.
Author Jean Clottes begins with a short history of more modern efforts to excavate and interpret cave art. This informs his analysis of what the different pieces throughout the book might represent, even as he indicates that it's essentially impossible to "know" exactly what the arts "mean" without access to the culture and context surrounding their creation.
The art itself is the centerpiece here, with large-scale color photos of beautiful bison and intricate carvings...and sure, lines and dots and triangular scratches on the wall. Altogether, "Cave Art" makes the reader appreciate both the capacity of the people who created this art and the mysteries that remain in their wake.
February 21, 2024
Очень крутой и красивый альбом с фотографиями пещерного искусства.
Автор - известный специалист в этой области, и он сделал на свой вкус наиболее репрезентативную и зрелищную подборку фотографий.
Образцы собраны по периодам - от самых первых до нескольких образцов после Ледникового периода. Представлены как рисунки пигментами, так и барельефы и артефакты. В основном встречаются изображения животных, причём больше травоядных. Все антропоморфные изображения - или фокусируются на определённых частях тела, или "франкенштейны" с головами животных.
Хотелось бы как-нибудь посмотреть что-то из этого вживую. Поскольку есть пара изображений австралийских пещер (очень впечатляюще!), может быть что-то есть в обозримой доступности от меня.
Автор - известный специалист в этой области, и он сделал на свой вкус наиболее репрезентативную и зрелищную подборку фотографий.
Образцы собраны по периодам - от самых первых до нескольких образцов после Ледникового периода. Представлены как рисунки пигментами, так и барельефы и артефакты. В основном встречаются изображения животных, причём больше травоядных. Все антропоморфные изображения - или фокусируются на определённых частях тела, или "франкенштейны" с головами животных.
Хотелось бы как-нибудь посмотреть что-то из этого вживую. Поскольку есть пара изображений австралийских пещер (очень впечатляюще!), может быть что-то есть в обозримой доступности от меня.
September 25, 2022
Because of the involvement of Clottes, this is the most authoritative book on the matter for public consumption. The map, however, is not the territory. Cave art is ritual installation, and the effect cannot be felt through a book
March 7, 2021
Beautiful
Want to Read
July 31, 2025365a t14
August 9, 2019
Beautiful book, awesome and detailed pictures, it is breathtaking. Clottes adds comments and explanations that are really easy to follow by looking at the images. Some photos are about cave art, others show objects that were found in the caves. It includes photos of Chauvet Cave, Lascaux Cave, Altamira and others.
I recommend to see the photos with the cellphone light and dark room for a better effect.
I recommend to see the photos with the cellphone light and dark room for a better effect.
March 4, 2013
Unbelievable images of humanity's first attempts (over 50,000 years old) at artistic expression and historic preservation, awesome.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews