Figurative Art

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Figurative Art.

Figurative art, is generally used as a description for a certain type of artwork - which for the whole consists of works that are of a pictorial or sculptural representation and in doing so are classed as representational of the subject. The term "figurative art" is often taken to mean art that is representational of the human figure, be it in external form or bodily shape. It is also used to describe art or sculpture including the depiction of animals. But just how long have we as humans been producing works that could be classified as being figurative art.

The early painters of the renaissance portrayed the classical concept of the human form in their paintings. Examples of this can be seen in the works of Bellini, Titian, and Michelangelo. Figurative works by Bouguereau, Picasso, Matisse, Rubens Vermeer or the surrealists, Rene Magritte and Dali also portrayed the human form.

"Since the arrival of abstract art the term figurative art has been used to refer to any form of modern art that retains strong references to the real world."

Art in the form of paintings or sculpture can thus be categorised as being figurative representational art ( Art that can be easily recognised by the human eye.) Or abstract art, (Art that has originated or has been abstracted from a figurative or other natural source)

Early Greek and Roman sculptors were said to have established the classical standard for the sculpting of the human figure.

The Earliest known examples of figurative art.

Figurative art has been around since man first began placing images on rock faces and cave walls although it was never described as such. Some of the earliest examples of figurative art can be seen portraying clear depictions of animals and human forms. Some if not the greatest earliest examples of figurative art were found in Kimberley Australia and are clear depictions of human like forms. These images bare similar characteristics to the figures depicted in the works of Dali and Picasso. See below.

Earlier examples of figurative art have been discovered in the Chauvet caves in Southern France. The paintings which are believed to be 30,000 years old feature several images of the female form. In the image shown to the left, named Venus and the sorcerer it is easy to make out the black triangular area representing the pubic area. Into it has been scratched a thin white line to represent the vulva. Below are the tops of her thighs leading to the bottoms of her legs where there are no feet visible. Despite the lack of the full nude female this example could again be classed as a figurative representation of the female form.

Early examples of sculpted figurative art dating back at least 35,000 years have been discovered in Hohle Fels cave in Swabian Jura South western Germany. It is believed that the earliest example of a sculpted human figure was discovered there in 2008.

It is a small Venus like sculpture of a woman measuring approximately 6cm and carved from the ivory of a mammoth tusk. It is believed to be at least 35,000 years old which predates any other human sculptures ever found. It is suggested that the carving represents a female figure with a swollen stomach, wide set thighs and large engorged breasts. She has neither a head nor feet.

Deliberate or not, both the Venus of Berekhat Ram and the Venus of Tan Tan are characteristic of ancient fertility symbols which suggest that they are authentic and representative of what we would class or consider to be figurative art. Even if this were not the case prior to their discovery would it not be just to categorise them as such now. After all art is how we perceive it to be, and, are they not both a work of art in their own right regardless of whether they were carved by man or nature.

An earlier probable example of figurative art was discovered in 1981 during an excavation in the Goland Heights of Israel. It is a small figurine made from volcanic rock. It stands at 3.5cm and is said to be a representation of a female. Its initial shape is believed to be the product of erosion but at some point having been recognised as being human like it was deliberately carved to accentuate and emphasise the contours of the body. Deliberate grooves have been carved around the neck and on its sides to enhance its shape and detail the separation between the head and body and detail the arms and chest. There is also a hole where the naval would be. Its base also appears to have been deliberately flattened to allow it to stand. It was named the Venus of Berekhat Ram after the location were it was discovered and is believed to be between 230,000 to 500,000 years old.

An even earlier probable example of a representation of the human form was found in Morocco during an archaeological survey which took place in 1999. Believed to be between 300,000 - 500,000 years old and made from quartzite It measures approximately 6cm and is thought to have first been naturally eroded into a basic human form. Again at some point it was recognised as such and deliberately engraved to emphasise the shape and contours of the body and then embellished with an ochre pigment to enhance its humanlike appearance. Could it be a deliberate representation of a human in the form of a figurine, or a trick of nature. There is a lot of controversy among archaeologists and other experts as to its authenticity and there are strong arguments both for and against this owing to the discovery of the Venus of Berekhat Ram. It is sometimes categorised as the Venus of Tan Tan although it is faceless and its gender is non specific.

These discoveries mean that man had evolved enough to make true artistic representations of humans and other forms and had in fact unknowingly produced the earliest known examples of figurative art.

Salvador Dali.