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human scores that tell stories and tell history +9
The oldest known human drawing is a 73,000-year-old red ochre "hashtag" pattern on stone from South Africa, predating previous examples by 30,000 years. This discovery indicates that early Homo sapiens used abstract, symbolic art to record information, communicate stories, and explore complex behaviors long before writing.
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
+3
Key Aspects of Drawing History
Oldest Examples: Beyond the 73,000-year-old hashtag, early drawings from the Upper Paleolithic (around 30,000–40,000 years ago) include cave paintings and pictograms.
Purpose & Evolution: Drawing was a foundational form of communication and a way to document daily life, myths, and surroundings before and alongside the development of language.
Techniques: Early methods included engraving and using red ochre, a natural earth pigment, as a crayon.
Storytelling: Throughout history, drawings and reliefs have been used to narrate stories, as seen in ancient Assyrian reliefs and later, the Bayeux Tapestry.
Figure Drawing & Anatomy: Life drawing, the sketching of the human form, has roots in the ancient world and became a cornerstone of art education during the Renaissance, with artists like Leonardo da Vinci conducting anatomical studies to enhance their accuracy.
British Museum
Royal British Museum +5
Significance of Early Art
Symbolic Communication: The ability to draw lines on a surface represented a significant leap in human cognitive ability, allowing individuals to share abstract ideas and stories.
Prehistoric Expression: These early marks on stones and walls of caves were more than just pictures; they were intricate representations of the intelligence and social organization of the early human population. Artistic Evolution: From simple carvings to intricate paintings, drawing has continuously evolved, adapting to new materials and providing a visual record of humanity's journey.