The Origin Of Art

Once upon a time... The oldest intentional images in the known world are cave drawings and etchings made by cavemen. Earth's first artists. What Ug lacked in talent, he also lacked in imagination. What his goal seems to have been was to be able to pass on to other people things he had seen. So despite the rudimentary crudeness, the cave man was doing his best to provide an exact rendering of what he was drawing. As millennia passed and man began to live in places other than caves, the cave wall became stone tablets, then animal skins, and eventually on to the canvas we know today. Techniques went from using bones and rocks to feathers and brushes made from hair. But the intent was still there. Portray as accurately what had been witnessed as possible. And there came some people who were truly talented. Their portrayals of plants and animals and people were growing in such a quality that there was no translation needed as to what was drawn or painted. Paints changed, tools evolved, and the art got better... Now... here's where I'm going to lose some of you... Somewhere along the way, when people were beginning to be recognized for their great art talent, there were those who sought the glory, but lacked the talent. Or those who lacked the sober mind. So, they created "styles" like "abstract" and "surrealistic" and claimed they were great! In the times of humankind, many famed artists were championed by certain kings, queens and nobles. Regardless of talent, they became the favorite due to Royal decree. Their style, regardless of if it was the best possible art of the day, became what was to be strived for. For to curry favor with the powers-that-be was more important to them than to stay true to themselves. OK... for those who are still with me... I'm not indicting the artistic styles we have today. Today's artist is striving for one of two things; either as realistic, photo-quality creation as is possible or to recreate the styles that emerged from the flawed artists many call "masters". And in style, many of those creations are indeed strikingly beautiful. They have a value, both in history and in entertainment. There is a place for slinging paint or vomiting objects all over the canvas. It's appreciated by many, or at least many claim to apprciate it. But I think if Ug were here today, and he was asked to judge all the possible styles of art, his preference would be "the closest to reality" as can be captured. It's what he was trying to achieve with stones and bones and blood when he created art as a form on that cave wall oh-so-long ago...