Art History

July 4, 2024

51,000-Year-Old Cave Art in Indonesia Is the World’s Oldest Figurative Art

Researchers believe that they found the oldest example of figurative rock art in a cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The cave art depicting three humans and a pig was painted at least 51,200 years ago. This is at least 5,000 years earlier than the previous record holder, an image of a pig discovered in a different cave on the island. A new study published in Nature details the findings. “The painting tells a complex story.

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June 30, 2024

Volunteers Uncover 3,500-Year-Old Rock Art During Environmental Cleanup in Kazakhstan

Cleaning campaigns are good news for the environment. But thanks to one of such missions in Kazakhstan, fans of archeology also have something to be excited about. During a cleanup in the the Zhambyl (or Jambyl) region, volunteers came across about 100 petroglyphs, dating back to the Bronze or Iron ages, roughly 3,500 years ago. After the rock art was spotted, local archeologists were brought in to examine them.

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June 9, 2024

15 Funny Medieval Illustrations of Animals Artists Had Never Seen

Except for some elusive exceptions, today, there are photos and videos of every creature you can think of. And while it may seem commonplace, this kind of knowledge has only been around for a few decades. But centuries ago, artists and scientists didn't have it that easy. That's why, when it came to illuminated manuscripts, those in charge of medieval animal illustrations were at the mercy of the few written descriptions they had available.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.