Paleolithic art

Abstract

Paleolithic art emerges in Europe around 32,000 years before present. It is found on cave walls and in the form of sculptures and pendants. Since its discovery in the late 1800s, interpretations of why the art was made and what it meant to our ancestors have been biased by the sex of the researcher and the sociopolitical climate. Early interpretations by males suggested that Paleolithic imagery was created by males and for males. Later, females challenged the assumptions of their male predecessors, suggesting that women may have created artwork and emphasized the strength of women. Recent evidence suggests that both sexes participated in creating art, and that even young children were active in this endeavor as well.