The cave art of France’s Dordogne region is world-famous for the mythology and beauty of its remarkable drawings and paintings. Over more than twenty-five years of teaching and research, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon has become an unrivaled expert in the cave art and artists of.
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I read it bit by bit over about a week. The author has such a deep understanding and length of exposure to these treasures that she was able to create a real page turner. Her explanation of the context in which these works of art were created, and of the evoultion of our species, is a very valuable source. I could not recommend this book more highly and have ordered copies to give friends and family members who may never be able to experience these wonders first hand. This book is the next best thing.
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This must be a very difficult subject to write a book about because after several tries I haven't found one yet that hasn't been, as another reviewer said, overwhelmingly "dry or New Age". Having said that I think this is the best yet for someone like me who doesn't have an academic background in the field.
It is certainly well written and eminently readable for the layman as an overview of the subject, but In the end it is disappointing. The real question the reader wants answered is "why" and, apparently so far, that answer is simply unknown. But that doesn't stop other authors from profoundly speculating. Thankfully this book does not focus on that type of guessing game. Desdemaines-Hugon does a very good job of sticking to what it is and not why it is. The problem however, it seems to me, based on what is actually known this is a subject for a book of illustrations, not page after page after page of text.
If you haven't seen at least a copy the painting a glowing description of the "Mona Lisa", no matter how accurate, is a rather useless and frustrating experience.
I found myself simultaneously and for the most part unsuccessfully searching other sources for some visual confirmation of the authors rapturous opinions. Bottom line, good but not great. The author does an excellent job of conveying a sense of several particular caves in France, their art and the fascination it can hold. All without creating fiction. With this as an introduction, one will have a real framework in which to incorporate more narrow and fact-list types of work on the subject.
Even more significantly, Desdemaines-Hugon is insightful and profound without projecting personal or cultural interpretations on the imagery or it's location inside caves. Throughout the book, while questions and reflections flow, interpretations are notably absent. She consistently demonstrates a method of experiencing the place and the art with unassuming openess.
Then in the last 3 pages she makes a concise and well supported statement, concluding, "What moves us today, whether for aesthetic or mystical reasons also touched these Paleolithic artists Stylistic conventions, techniques, cultural motivations may vary over time, but. I recommend reading this book just for the broader implications of that idea and its fleshed out argument, as well as to enable one to avoid approaching Paleolithic art without a conceptual box in hand, looking for pieces that fit. I am thoroughly enjoying this book. The author, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, writes in a fashion that is informative, but not above my head.
She freely states this book is a "more like a story, than anything else" and that is what I was looking for, regarding ice age cave art. I am interested in an introduction, a basic understanding of the subject, and Ms. Desdemaines-Hugon provides that very well. I highly recommend the book. Desdemaines-Hugon, educated as an artist before getting Kindle Edition Verified Purchase.
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Desdemaines-Hugon, educated as an artist before getting her archeology degree, is particularly qualified to emphasize specific artistic details and techniques of the Ice Age cave art. Through her detailed descriptions I was was able to imagine these early artists planning, painting and executing their timeless renditions. When I visited the caves the author describes, her words made each viewing of these timeless scenes come alive. Then seeing other historic paintings and sculptures in the museums, as well as some of the tools they used, made the total experience in other Ice Age caves the richer and more profound.
Being in these Ice Age Caves of the Dordogne is magical! Seeing the artwork with informed fresh eyes is transformational, as well as transcendent. One person found this helpful. A great book, she gives a whole lot of detail in exampling what she saw in these caves. What type of paint was used for the painting. Still do not know the purpose for all these drawings of animals.
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Ian Tattersall Goodreads Author Foreword. Over more than twenty-five years of teaching and research, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon has become an unrivaled expert in the cave art and artists of the Dordogne region. Focusing on five fascinating sites, including the famed Font de Gaume and others that still remain open to the public, Stepping-Stones reveals striking similarities between art forms of the Paleolithic and works of modern artists and gives us a unique pathway toward understanding the culture of the Dordogne Paleolithic peoples and how it still touches our lives today.
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Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Dec 26, Cynthia rated it really liked it. Valued reading it as a "companion" to on site visits to caves covered in the book, but the author delivers a rewardingly rich range of informatipn on pre-historic human existence. She doesnt have a specific position to defend, but is very good about making the readwr aware of contemporary and diverging studies.
Despite being very "to the point," she brings a very humanistic understanding to her depiction of early man through observations on art, tools, and living conditions. Stylistically, a ple Valued reading it as a "companion" to on site visits to caves covered in the book, but the author delivers a rewardingly rich range of informatipn on pre-historic human existence.
Stylistically, a pleasure to read. Jun 25, Andrea rated it really liked it Shelves: A sensitive and very intelligent book on the art of the paleolothic, and a very good read. She does a nice job of mixing the latest thinking about the time period and its people from the whole range of experts, along with personal and professional reflections on the caves and the art itself.
Fascinating, she keeps it from being too dry though some of the lengthy description could have been cut a little bit Aug 23, Antonia rated it it was amazing Shelves: I first read this in May, This is my second read, third time for several chapters. A really good guide to the caves and cave art of south central France. I particularly appreciated that the author doesn't try to say why the paintings were done — something we will never know — but rather urges us to appreciate their beauty and the skill with which they were executed.
I'll be traveling there in a few days, and visiting some caves in the company of Ms. Sep 08, Paul Mccollom rated it it was amazing. An amazing book that captures her passion regarding the artists who painted in the caves of Dordogne, France. She has classically trained as an artist and an archaeologist, lived there for 25 years, and made innumerable visits to these caves.
I walked away with an appreciation that I never would have otherwise had. I was so impressed that I contacted her and she will be taking my wife and I and two other couples on a guided tour of two caves when we visit France later this month.