In English, this phrase translates to, "Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" To me these three questions are the foundation that forms our humanistic need to know who we are. Studying prehistoric art, like the cave paintings, leads us to interpret them; however, these interpretations are always going to be uncertain. We can never truly know what prehistoric artist are trying to convey through their artwork, were they simply painting a horse or some kind of deep metaphor? We can never come to any accurate conclusions.
In the final chapter of The Cave Painters, Curtis discusses the reason we connect so much to the cave paintings. "The Greek and Renaissance masters have unwilling taught us to appreciate [cave art]." (238) He claims that the qualities that define classicism are the qualities that the Greeks and prehistoric artists shared. These qualities include, dignity, strength, ease, confidence, and clarity. Always a perfect creature, be it Hercules or a bison, is portrayed with no sight of a sick or old creatures. Both share idealistic physical characteristics, such as a curved horn compared to a bent arm. Both the Greeks and the cave painters showed a great deal of classicism, which makes us feel drawn and intrigued by both cultures.
Our need and desire to understand where we began to be truly human, with art really differentiating us from our animal cousins. We probably will never be able to ever understand the true meaning behind the cave paintings, but for now we are left to our own interpretations and will have to be content with that.
-Holly
Sources:
The Cave Painters by Gregory Curtis
What is Art For? Ellen Dissanyake
http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/S26.1.html
http://www.themasterpiececards.com/Portals/40667/images//chauvet%20cave%20big%20horn%20rhino-resized-600.jpg
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