1 Waterworn Pebble with Human Face PDF

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History of Visual Arts AR2050 Lecture Notes Module 1-5...

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InEd_OCD1 | Waterworn Pebble with Human Face

This is a Paleolithic, or old Stone Age, work of art. It is made of Jasperite, a hard, dark stone and is approximately three inches long. It was discovered in a cave in the Makapan Valley of southern Africa, together with bones of early hominids. Three million years ago, the cave served as a dwelling for an extended family group. This object is unique, because it appears to have a human face. As we shall see, the human face has special significance throughout art history, as the face is the key identifying attribute of any individual. Much research has been conducted, for example, on infant recognition of human faces. Symbolically, such details as eyes have held special significance in human culture as a window of the soul. For this water worn Jasperite pebble, the details of mouth and eyes were created in a natural process of erosion. The pebble was situated under continually dripping water, which created the figurative details of mouth and eyes over time. In a special way, this object provides an opportunity for us to consider the definition of art. In art history, things found in nature are distinguished from works of art in a concept called contra naturam. Contrary to nature, art is contrived, made by hand. Some scholars argue that in order to classify an object as art, it must be either manufactured or physically modified. An engraved ochre from South Africa dated 75,000 BCE, for example, is described as a work of art because it was modified, that is, decorated. An object, like the water worn pebble can be confusing, because the facial details were created by a naturally occurring process of erosion. How then can we call this a work of art? The reason is because this is an artwork by designation. The prehistoric owner designated this object to have special meaning, presumably because it appears to be a human face. How do we know the owner valued this pre-Paleolithic work, over 3 million years old? Because Jasperite is not available in the location where this object was excavated. In other words, the owner found the work and carried it with them to a distant location for safekeeping. This implies the object had special meaning to the owner. It is a work of art by designation....