Observation

Few candidates attempted this question. The candidates’ performance was fair. They were expected to respond to the question in the following manner:

(a)        Definition of prehistoric art
-           It is the art before the recorded history.
-           It is the artwork/painting usually found on rock/cave surfaces.
-           It is the art produced by the people of the Stone Age period.
-           These are the paintings and engravings which date back to about 200,000 B.C done
on walls and ceilings of the cave.

- It is the art produced by the early men for religious, magical and game recording purposes with the use of crude tools and natural materials.

           
(b)        The Three Periods of Prehistoric Art
-           Old/early Stone Age (Palaeolithic)/30,000-10,000 B.C.                               
-           Middle (Mesolithic)/stone age/10,000-5,000 B.C.                                        
-           Late/new Stone Age (Neolithic) to the present/5000 B.C. to present.          

(c)        Contributions of Palaeolithic period to the development of art
-           The period witnessed the use of earth colours mixed with animal fats for painting.
-           Improvisation of colours such as charcoal as black, blood as red and juice from leaves, as white and juice from bark of trees, as green started during this period.
-           Painting on cave walls and rock surfaces as support also emerged.
-           Both 2 and 3 dimensional arts were introduced.
-           Introduction of imaginative drawing to art started.
-           Artists were influenced and inspired by the experience they had from the art of the period.
-           Introduction of engraving as an art techniques also started.
-           Art of the period added to the art heritage and treasures.
-           It was at the period that anatomy in art was introduced.
-           Production of objects from stones, bones and wood started.
-           Venuses especially the famous Venus of Willendorf were produced during the
period.
-           Introduction of simple outlines into paintings and engraving also emerged.
-           Introduction of abstract to engravings and painting started.
-           Line drawings of animals were also introduced.
-           Combination of painting and engraving were introduced.
-           Improvisation of painting tools e.g. Brush from feathers, twigs fingers was also introduced.
-           The preserved art of the period become tourism centre
-           The use of earth colours mixed with animal fats for painting also started.
-           The used flint as a tool also started.  
-           Many artists were influenced by the experience of the artists of the time.