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History of Art

Sources of the history of art are based upon the extracts and literary evidences. Writing was invented about 5000 years back. So from earliest time to the invention of writing we are guided by the extracts found due to the excavations and researches and after that books guide us.

Researches began during later half of the 19th century. In Europe the researches and excavations have been more extensive .In other countries that is China, Persia, America and India etc. we do not reach very deep into the past and at the same time our knowledge is not complete.

Three glacial epochs had already passed and at the end of third glacial epoch the man was hairy, rugged without clothing and possessed stone axe to defend himself. Two discoveries had already been made i.e. controlling fire and use of stone implements.

During the evolution of thousand of years art impulse gave the man feeling for proportion, symmetry and balance. This sensitivity increased in late Chillian and Mousterianages, the man belonged to Neanderthal race. With the approach of fourth glacial epoch the man and animals began to migrate to safer places. Man began to cover himself with skin and traces have been found of family life. Color made its appeal and he began to decorate his body and skin, clothing with ornaments. Then a giant migration perhaps from Asia brought Cro magnon man into Europe. At that time Europe and Asia were connected together and people could come and go on foot passing the shallow MediterraneanSea. Animals were in abundance. These people were also hunters but far advanced mentally to the Neanderthalman. They stitched the skins together with the needles of bones and had implements made of bones, stones and horns.

Source: From the notes and lectures of late Dr Anis Farooqui
Director
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi